Chicago really knows how to party for Pride. Each June, the city is brimming with LGBTQ+ celebrations and events, including over-the-top street fests, exhilarating concerts, raucous dance parties, and, of course, the iconic Chicago Pride Parade.
The center of the city’s Pride celebrations can be found in Northalsted (also known as Boystown), the first official LGBTQ+ neighborhood in the country, but you’ll find festivities in every corner of the city. Here’s what you need to know about the Chicago Pride Parade, Pride Fest, and more top Pride events.
Pride Month in Chicago
Chicago Pride Parade
Sunday, June 29, 2025
The Chicago Pride Parade is one of the largest LGBTQ+ Pride parades in the world. The colorful procession features celebrities, drag queens, local groups, musicians, performers, marching bands, rainbow-hued floats, and more.
A tradition for more than 50 years, the Chicago Pride Parade attracts more than one million spectators every year to conclude the city’s month-long Pride celebrations.
The parade will step off at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Admission is free, get there early to secure a good spot along the route.
About the Chicago Pride Parade
The 54th annual Chicago Pride Parade will bring together the LGBTQ+ community and its allies for a joyful day of love, solidarity, and community.
The four-mile procession is always held on the last Sunday of June and traverses through Northalsted, Uptown, Lakeview, and Lincoln Park. Since the first parade more than 50 years ago, the annual event has grown into one of the largest Pride parades in the country.
This year, more than 150 groups will march in solidarity under the theme “United in Pride”, highlighting the power of unity, diversity, and equality.
Chicago Pride Parade route
The Chicago Pride Parade route starts at North Broadway Avenue and West Montrose Avenue and heads south, ending near the intersection of West Diversey Parkway and North Sheridan Road in Lincoln Park. Check out the Chicago Pride Parade route map below.
How to get to the Chicago Pride Parade
Public transit is typically the easiest way to get to and from the Chicago Pride Parade. The parade route is accessible from the CTA Red Line ‘L’ train (any stop between Belmont and Sheridan) or the CTA Brown Line ‘L’ train (Diversey or Wellington stops).
You can take several CTA bus lines to the parade, though there will be scheduled reroutes near the parade route. You can also take a cab, Uber, Lyft, or Divvy, but keep in mind there will be road closures. Street parking will be limited on parade day.
Explore more: Celebrate Pride by honoring LGBTQ+ history in Chicago at these landmarks and museums.
Chicago Pride Fest
June 21 – 22, 2025
Chicago Pride Fest is a massive two-day pride celebration that takes over Northalsted every June.
Each year, thousands of revelers flock to the historic LGBTQ+ neighborhood to take part in the festivities, including multiple stages with live music, more than 150 food and merchandise vendors, drag shows, dance performances, a pet parade, a youth space for teens, and more.
This year’s headlining music acts include Jesse McCartney, Deborah Cox, Aluna, Confidence Man, and The Aces.
The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. There is a $20 suggested donation that helps support performers, festival workers, local non-profits, and community programs.
About Chicago Pride Fest
The Chicago Pride Festival, now in its 24th year, is always held in June on the weekend before the annual Chicago Pride Parade. The event draws more than 100,000 attendees from all over the country to sing, dance, eat, shop, and enjoy the colorful and inclusive atmosphere. The musical lineup typically attracts top national talent alongside up-and-coming local acts.
How to get to Chicago Pride Fest
Chicago Pride Fest is held on Halsted Street between Addison Street and Grace Street in the Northalsted neighborhood. The entrance gates are located at Halsted and Addison, Halsted and Broadway/Grace, Halsted and Waveland, and Broadway and Waveland.
Taking public transit to Chicago Pride Fest is quick, affordable, and easy. Just take the CTA Red Line ‘L’ train to the Addison or Sheridan stops.
You can take several CTA bus lines, though there will be scheduled reroutes near the festival. You can also take a cab, Uber, Lyft, or Divvy, but keep in mind there will be road closures. Street parking will be limited throughout the weekend.
Explore more: Keep the party going with the city’s inclusive nightlife scene, including LGBTQ+ bars and clubs all around the city.
More Pride events in Chicago
The Pride party keeps going all month long in Chicago, with events and festivals throughout the city’s welcoming and diverse neighborhoods. Explore more Chicago Pride celebrations this June and beyond.
Andersonville Midsommarfest
June 13 – 15, 2025
The Andersonville neighborhood is home to one of Chicago’s largest LGBTQ+ communities. The 59th annual Midsommarfest celebrates the area’s inclusivity, Swedish heritage, and commitment to local businesses. The fest features the Balmoral Pride Stage, which showcases local drag queens, cabaret performers, DJs, and more.
The Queer Fam Pride Jam
Don’t miss this celebration of LGBTQ+ families and allies. The Queer Fam Pride Jam will include a packed lineup of house music, drag, DJs, kid-friendly singalongs, and more.
Navy Pier Pride
Navy Pier Pride is a full day of free festivities in honor of the LGBTQ+ community at the city’s iconic lakefront attraction. Don’t miss live music, educational programs, performances from local LGBTQIA+ artists, on-site resources from community partners, and more.
Back Lot Bash Chicago
June 28 – 29, 2025
The Back Lot Bash Chicago in Andersonville is one of the best-attended Pride events dedicated to women. The block-party-style event, a staple for more than 20 years, includes a full day of music, capped off by performances from local DJs.
Pride South Side
July 5, 2025
Keep the party going and celebrate ‘The Right to Pride’ at Pride South Side. Held at The DuSable Black History Museum in Washington Park, this annual event features performances, dancing, local vendors, and more.
Looking for more? Check out Pride events in Chicago all year long.
History of Pride in Chicago
Chicago is well-known for its welcoming and inclusive nature, including a long history of supporting and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. In 2025, Chicago was named the safest city in the country for LGBTQ+ travelers.
One crucial piece of the city’s LGBTQ+ scene, both past and present, is the Northalsted neighborhood. Previously known as Boystown, the community was a hub for LGBTQ+ activism throughout the 1960s and 70s.
In 1997, the mayor of Chicago named the lakefront enclave the city’s gay district — making it the first major city to officially recognize an LGBTQ+ neighborhood. The historic decree also included installing giant rainbow pillars in the area, laying the foundation for The Legacy Walk, an outdoor museum dedicated to LGBTQ+ history.
Today, Northalsted is known as a vibrant and joyful area brimming with restaurants, nightlife, public art, queer-owned businesses, and welcoming locals. Chicago is also home to many diverse LGBTQ+ communities and nightlife areas throughout the city, including in nearby Andersonville and Uptown.
The very first Chicago Pride Parade, then called the Gay Liberation March, was held on June 27, 1970 in downtown Chicago to honor the Stonewall Uprising the previous year, making it one of the country’s first-ever Pride marches. The event was more of a protest than a parade, with a focus on demanding equality and building LGBTQ+ visibility and activism.
The parade moved to Boystown in the 1980s and has continued to expand as the event has boomed in popularity. Today, the Chicago Pride Parade is one of the country’s oldest and largest Pride celebrations, attracting more than one million spectators each year to celebrate love, activism, and belonging.
Dive into Chicago’s LGBTQ+ scene
