Pride Fest 2013: Everything You Need to Know

Chicago’s 11th Annual Pride Fest celebration is returning to Boystown, and this year, plenty has changed.

Now that the annual street festival is a full week before the Pride Parade, Pride Fest has dropped Friday night from its lineup. Instead, the party will take over Halsted Street on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9p.m.

But that doesn’t mean those with pride won’t still be celebrating Friday night. Boystown staples are throwing parties in lieu of the festival being pushed back a day. Examples include:

• Roscoe’s featuring Ana Matronic of the Scissor Sisters live on the dance floor
• Scarlet’s Be Whoever You Want to Be party
• Sidetrack’s Pride Fest Kick-Off party
• Berlin's Cosmix Pride Fest Weekend Kick-Off Party

Parking Restrictions, Street Closures and Traffic

Halsted Street from Grace Street to Addison Street will be closed for the festival, as well as Waveland Avenue from Halsted to North Broadway. Those closures start at 1 a.m. on Saturday and will be lifted at 3 a.m. on Monday.

There’s to be no parking on either of those streets during the festival, or on Bradley Street from Halsted to the nearest alley to the west. All traffic will be diverted around the street closures via North Broadway, including the No. 8 bus that runs down Halsted.

Stage Performances

North Stage on Saturday

• 12:30 p.m.—Pride Drag Show
• 2 p.m.—Aubrey O'Day
• 3 p.m.—Pride Drag Show
• 4:30 p.m.—Jessica Sutta
• 5:30 p.m.—Pride Drag Show
• 6:30 p.m.—Blu Cantrell
• 7 p.m.—Pride Drag Show
• 8 p.m.—Sascha Gradiva
• 8:30 p.m.—Xelle
• 9 p.m.—Dev

South Stage on Saturday

• 1 p.m.—Tandem 6
• 2:30 p.m.—Chicago Gay Men's Chorus
• 3:30 p.m.—Chicago Spirit Brigade
• 3:30 p.m.—Amy and Freddy
• 6 p.m.—Wedding Banned
• 7:30 p.m.—Windy City Cowboys 
• 8 p.m.—Rock Candy 

North Stage on Sunday

• Noon—Miss Foozie's Pet Parade Registration and Start
• 1 p.m.—Pride Drag Show
• 2:30 p.m.—Deborah Cox
• 3 p.m.—Pride Drag Show
• 4 p.m.—Ultra Nate
• 5 p.m.—Inaya Day                
• 6 p.m.—Neon Hitch
• 7 p.m.—Sandy B.
• 8 p.m.—Janice Robinson and Tameka Star

South Stage on Sunday

• 1 p.m.—Miss Foozie's Pet Parade Contest
• 2 p.m.—HAG
• 3:45 p.m.—Chicago Spirit Brigade
• 4 p.m.—The Personnel
• 6 p.m.—Rod Tuffcurls
• 7:30 p.m.—Sixteen Candles

Monday, June 24

• LGBT Trip to Six Flags Great America: Tickets include roundtrip coach bus transportation from Hydrate Nightclub with a continental breakfast and complimentary cocktails as well as tickets to the park. Tickets are $59.

Wednesday, June 26

• Fireworks Boat Cruise: The Big Gay Cocktail Club will host a 3-hour cruise complete with fireworks. Boarding starts at 6:30 p.m, and the cruise sails from 7-10 p.m. Tickets cost $34, will be available for sale soon, and include appetizers.

Friday, June 28

• Pride Pub Crawl: Bars and restaurants down North Halsted Street will help kick off the weekend with specials. Schedule and said specials have yet to be announced.

Saturday, June 29

• Proud to Run 10K/5k Walk or Run: The race celebrating the LGBT community kicks off at 8 a.m. Saturday at Montrose Harbor, racing up to Hollywood Beach in Edgewater. Tickets cost $35 for pre-registration and $40 the day of the race.

Sunday, June 30

• Annual Pride Parade