Undeterred by an extreme heat advisory, thousands flocked to Northalsted over the weekend for Chicago’s 24th annual Pride Fest — a two-day celebration of LGBTQ+ identity, resilience and community.
The festival, held Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22, filled the neighborhood with music, drag performances, dancing and guest speakers. The Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus performed, and more than 150 vendors offered food, drinks and merchandise along the closed-off streets.
Max Mendoza told the Chronicle they made the two-and-a-half hour trip from their hometown, Antioch, which is about 50 miles northwest of Chicago, to attend their first-ever Pride Fest this weekend. They traveled by Metra and CTA to get to the city from Lake County.
“I have really bad anxiety, so coming here by myself is a huge deal,” Mendoza said. “But at the same time, it’s not as overwhelming as I was expecting. I’m really pumped.”
Mendoza said they kept their outfit simple for the festival on Sunday due to the extreme heat, trading their usual cosplay style for something that would keep them cooler.
“I saw a lot of people cosplaying yesterday, but I was like, you guys have to be so hot,” they said, adding that several festivalgoers ditched elaborate outfits on the second day to beat the heat.
On Saturday, temperatures hit 95 degrees with a heat index of 106, followed by a high of 96 degrees and a heat index of 105 on Sunday.
Emma Miller of Denver and Marcus Lemons of St. Louis traveled to Northalsted together for the festival. Miller said they loaded up on their sunscreen and water to stay safe.
“It’s good to see so many different groups of people being able to find their own spaces and then combining them together,” Lemons said. “I think that’s why Chicago is so lovely.”
Over 150 food and merchandise vendors from all across Chicago lined North Halsted Street, offering everything from handmade crafts to Pride-themed apparel and local eats.
Among them was Gracie Pie Apothecary, a vendor selling handmade soaps made with goat milk and a variety of scents. For the festival, the shop featured Pride-themed products, including one called “Fruity As Fucckkkk,” a black raspberry and vanilla-scented soap in purple and pink colors.
Grace Souzie, co-owner of Gracie Pie Apothecary, said she was excited to be part of this year’s festival after previously attending events with fewer LGBTQ+ participants.
“Being a part of the community is being awesome – and gay,” Souzie said.
Gel Capozzoli traveled from Detroit to attend Chicago’s Pride Fest, continuing their tradition of visiting Pride celebrations in different states.
“The atmosphere here is so much different, I think, especially since this is in a more predominantly gay neighborhood,” said Capozzoli.
Kinky Earrings, owned by Kyla Emmons, offered jewelry designs ranging from horror movie icons to lightning bolts and butterflies.
“The vibes are good, the people are awesome, pride events are the best ones to do,” Emmons said.
The festival also showcased local LGBTQ+ owned businesses, including Papito Chicago, which featured leather harnesses, jock straps, masks and dolls dressed in miniature versions of their gear. The business is owned by Claudio Prieto.
“I started designing for myself, and people began asking where to buy, which led to me designing and selling,” Prieto said.
Author David Jay Collins sold copies of his novel, including “Gaybash” and “Summerdale,” and his romance novel “Single & Cooking.”
Collins said he started writing to create the LGBTQ+ representation he couldn’t find in mainstream fiction.
“This is our community, and we will fight for it, and we will show up for it,” said Collins.
Nearby, artist Marquis Leo displayed coasters and posters featuring abstract depictions of male and feminine bodies.
“I do it in a very representative, inclusive and celebratory way,” Leo said. “It’s really the small positive things that we have in our lives that actually drive us consciously and subconsciously,” said Leo.
For him, Pride Fest remains a reminder of the importance of love and visibility.
“Love is love, and you shouldn’t have to, in any society, be told who you can love and who you can share your life with,” Leo said.
Copy edited by Vanessa Orozco
