Your Complete Guide to Chicago Pride 2016, From Parade to Parties and More
Chicago's Pride celebration is in full swing: Here are the official Pride events you should know about if you're going to be in the Windy City this week before the celebration's culminates with Sunday's 47th annual Pride Parade.
Thursday
The weekend starts off with a Professionals Do Pride happy hour at Sidetrack from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and proceeds go to local LGBTQ nonprofit Chicago House and Social Service Agency. Pride Trivia also takes place at the Glenwood at 8 p.m.; entry is $10 per team.
Friday
The TKO Pride Celebration will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Center on Halstead, and will feature a performance from party host Lady Bunny.
The first night of Star Whores: The Pride Awakens at Boystown's Playground Theater, an improv and storytelling performance from GayCo Productions, starts at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.
The Urbano Blatino Pride Party begins at 11 p.m. at the Fantasy Night Club, and the GayGlow dance party starts at 11 p.m. at Charlie's Chicago.
The Back Lot Bash, a women's festival, kicks off its second weekend. The bash in Andersonville will feature appearances from Orange Is The New Black's Taryn Manning and Lisa Loeb.
Saturday
The 35th Proud to Run, a 10K run and 5K run and walk, begins at 8:05 a.m. and ends with a post-race celebration at Replay Beer & Bourbon. Late registration for the race opens at 6:30 a.m. Proceeds from the race this year will go to Trans Tech Social Enterprises, About Face Theatre and Center on Halsted.
The TransMale Beach Party will take place on Hollywood Beach from 10 a.m. until sundown. Organizers suggest bringing a picnic lunch (liquor is not allowed) and looking for the trans Pride flag.
The 20th anniversary Chicago Dyke March in Humboldt Park starts at 2 p.m. The Chicago Dyke March Collective is a grassroots organization that celebrates "dyke, queer, bisexual and transgender resilience."
Sunday
Pride weekend culminates in the 47th annual Pride Parade through the Lakeview and Uptown neighborhoods. The parade will begin at noon. Visit Chicago Pride online for more information about the parade, including a map of the route.
For those who would rather enjoy the parade indoors, Scarlet Bar will host a Pride Parade Party from noon to 4 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in advance or at the door; tickets include drinks during the duration of the parade.
Visit Chicago Pride online for more "pearls of wisdom" for navigating Pride in Chicago.
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