Celebrate Pride Month with parades and festivals in June
Almost 20 Pride events are scheduled across the suburbs in June, with parades, live music, food trucks and family activities. Here is where you can find them.
Friday, June 5
Pride in Park Ridge: 4-8 p.m. Friday, June 5, at Hodges Park, 101 Courtland Ave., Park Ridge. Annual community-led LGBTQIA+ celebration organized and sponsored by several inclusive congregations, local organizations, and volunteers. Entertainment includes live music, Firebrand line dancing, inflatables, face-painting and more. Kiki Queens performs at 7 p.m. prideinparkridge.org.
Saturday, June 6
Downers Grove PrideFest: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at Fishel Park, 1036 Grove St., Downers Grove. A family-friendly celebration featuring local organizations and businesses, vendors, music by Bella's Second Shot Band at noon, a costume contest at 2 p.m., interactive games and activities. Food trucks include Folklore Coffee, Heavenly Hot Dogs, Hello Boba, and Tacos Las Manitas. eqdg.org.
Elgin Pride Parade & Festival: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at Festival Park, 132 S. Grove Ave., Elgin. Elgin Pride: ELGbtq+ hosts the fourth annual family-friendly festival. Parade steps off at 11 a.m. at Riverside Drive and Prairie Street, heading north to Chicago Street, east to Spring Street, then south back to Prairie Street. It is followed by the festival in Festival Park with Mahira BellyDance of Chicagoland, music by Sweetie and Blanket Fort Assembly, and food trucks. Free. elginpride.org.
Sunday, June 7
Buffalo Grove Pride Parade: 11 a.m. Sunday, June 7, starting at Buffalo Grove and Thompson Boulevard, heading south on Buffalo Grove Road, then west on Deerfield Parkway. Eighth annual family-friendly Pride parade with the theme “Shine with Pride: Illuminating Resilience.” The Pride Picnic at Mike Rylko Park will immediately follow. The event is organized in collaboration with the Pinta Pride Project and the Buffalo Grove Park District. Free. buffalogrovepride.com.
Crystal Lake Pride Walk & Social: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 7, in the Pride Court at the Brink Street Market in downtown Crystal Lake. Third annual event kicks off with the Pride Walk at 11 a.m. from Williams Street and Crystal Lake Avenue, heading to the main festival area. Pride Court features artisan market, food vendors and resource fair. Bags tournament from noon to 5 p.m. with cash prizes; register online. Line dancing at 2 and 4 p.m. with The Second City Outlaws. Music lineup: rapper Jayleigh at 11:30 a.m., local music talent at noon, Atomic Blondie tribute at 2 p.m. and ’90s pop rock at 4:30 p.m. Free. crystallakepride.org/pridewalkandsocial.
St. Charles Pride Fest: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 7, at Mount St. Mary Park, off Route 31 and Prairie Street in St. Charles. The St. Charles Equity and Inclusion Commission is hosting the second annual event with food trucks, crafts, live music, karaoke, giveaways, and activities, as well as resource tables from local businesses and nonprofits. Free. stcharlesil.gov.
Buffalo Grove Pride Picnic: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 7, at Mike Rylko Community Park (near the Spray ‘N Play), 1000 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove. Beyond the Blonde, food trucks, and family entertainment featuring inflatables, lawn games and face painters. Free. For parking tips, go to bgparks.org/pride-picnic.
Saturday, June 13
Woodstock PrideFest: Saturday and Sunday, June 13-14. Ninth annual event starts Saturday with Woodstock Pride Field Day and Chalk Art starting at 9 a.m. and Color Run at 11:30 a.m. The Pride Pub Crawl starts at 6 p.m. Saturday on the historic Woodstock Square; check-in from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the bandstand. Cost is $25, which includes two drink tokens. Woodstock PrideFest Parade at 11 a.m. Sunday with grand marshals Joe Weyland and Katherine Brooks. The parade starts and ends at Dean Street School, heading north on Dean Street to Benton, then Tryon Street back to the school, 600 Dean St. The festival will be from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, with iPop performing at 3 p.m. woodstockilpride.com/pridefest.
Sunday, June 14
Aurora Pride Parade: Noon Sunday, June 14, in downtown Aurora. Seventh annual parade starts at East Benton Street and South Broadway, travels northeast along Broadway to Downer Place, left on Downer Place, and ends at West Downer Place and North Middle Avenue. After-party at 1 p.m. featuring DJ Katie B at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway. Tickets are $10 at aurorapride.org. Proceeds benefit next year’s parade. facebook.com/AuroraILPrideFestival/.
Grayslake Pride Parade: Noon Sunday, June 14, in downtown Grayslake. Sixth annual event hosted by the Better Together Project. Family-friendly parade kicks off at Hawley and Slusser streets, continues onto Center Street and Seymour Avenue, and comes to an end back at Slusser. grayslakevillagecenter.com.
Wednesday, June 17
Highwood Pride in the Park: 4:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, at Everts Park, 111 North Ave., Highwood. Featuring DJ Versage, a community mural with The Art Center, giant yard games, free activity tables. Also, create friendship bracelets, get rainbow tattoos, or design Pride rocks for the garden. Food and drinks available from Evening Gourmet Market vendors. celebratehighwood.org/pride-in-the-park.
Thursday, June 18
Carol Stream Pride Concert: 6-9 p.m. Thursday, June 18, at the Ross Ferraro Town Center, 960 N. Gary Ave., Carol Stream. Food vendors from 6-8:30 p.m. with a concert at 7 p.m. The weekly summer concert features a special theme with Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute. Food and drink for purchase. Free. carolstream.org.
Saturday, June 20
Chicago Pride Fest 2026: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 20-21, in Chicago’s Northalsted neighborhood. 25th annual celebration of LGBTQ+ life, culture and community, live music on three stages, drag artists, dance exhibitions, guest speakers, food, drinks, and over 150 art, merchandise and service vendors. Proud Pet Parade at noon Sunday. Performances include Durand Bernarr, G Flip, Alex Chapman + Zoe Gitter Present: GAG, Willa Ford, MNEK and more. $20 suggested donation. northalsted.com.
Elmhurst Family Pride Fest: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at Elmhurst Presbyterian Church, 367 Spring Road, Elmhurst. Hosted by the church and Elmhurst Pride Collective, a free, family-friendly outdoor event with treats, crafts, games, vendors, raffles and more. Entertainment lineup: Crocodile Rockstar, DJ Dan Maxon, Belong Pride Color Guard, Wabi Sabi Tarot & Astrology and Story Time with Windy City Mermaids. In honor of America’s 250th birthday, the theme is “America is for Everyone!” elmhurstpridecollective.com.
Lake County PrideFest: Noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at the Round Lake Beach Cultural & Civic Center, 2007 N. Civic Center Way, Round Lake Beach. Sixth annual family-friendly outdoor festival with food trucks, craft and artisan vendors, a resource fair, games and entertainment for kids, and more. Music lineup: Brandon G (acoustic) at noon, Jon Babin (acoustic ’90s) at 1 p.m., Mami Zaddy (local reggaeton) at 2 p.m., Charlie Foxtrot (party band) at 3 p.m., Jayleigh (local rapper) at 4 p.m., Would You Kindly? (alt rock) at 5 p.m., and Lola Madison Drag Review at 6:30 p.m. $10 suggested donation. lgbtqlc.com/pridefest2026.
Des Plaines Community Pride Celebration: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 675 E. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines. Fifth annual community event features face painting, bounce house, crafts, tacos from Sunrise Grill, family yoga session at 1:30 p.m., storytelling at 2:30 p.m., information from local LGBTQIA+ support organizations, and a family-friendly drag show finale. Donations welcome. speakdesplaines.org/pride/.
Sunday, June 28
55th annual Chicago Pride Parade: 11 a.m. Sunday, June 28, from Grace and Broadway, traveling through Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Northalsted neighborhood and into Lincoln Park. This year’s theme is “Free to Be Proud.” This year’s honorees include journalist and historian Tracy Baim; civil rights leader Mona Noriega; philanthropist and community advocate Evette Cardona; and the Alliance of Illinois Judges, the state’s LGBTQ+ judges’ association. Visit pridechicago.org.