Aurora celebrating second annual Pride Parade

A new Aurora tradition that almost got stopped in its tracks due to rising costs is marching forward.

The second annual Aurora Pride Parade will step off at noon Sunday, June 9, from East Benton Street and Broadway in downtown. The 60-unit procession will head northeast on Broadway to Downer Place and then northwest across the Fox River to North Middle Avenue.

"Last year, it was a new experience, both for us and for the city," said Gwyn Ciesla, parade chairwoman.

Ciesla said a review of costs for the event, including security, resulted in what was projected as a fourfold increase from the cost of the parade's 2018 debut, which Ciesla said ran presenters between $7,000 and $12,000.

The event is sponsored by Indivisible Aurora, which Ciesla describes as a "nonprofit issues-based activist group."

Confronted with rising costs, the group decided in April to cancel this year's parade. But that decision was reversed within a few days when costs were reduced through a pared down schedule of events for the festival surrounding the parade.

A marketplace and 5K race were eliminated, she said.

And the parade route is shorter, covering only about one-third of a mile, as opposed to last year's two-thirds of a mile route.

There also was a fundraising push, she said.

"We actually raised more than we intended," Ciesla said.

This year, she said, "the total bill we are going to pay the city is in the neighborhood of $28,000."

The parade Grand Marshal will be Nancy Mullen, executive director of Youth Outlook, a not-for-profit organization that serves LGBTQ youth.

The lineup is expected to include representatives from local, regional and national organizations and businesses; government leaders, including Mayor Richard Irvin and U.S. Reps. Lauren Underwood and Sean Casten; musicians; lip-syncing performers; members of Human Rights Campaign Chicago; and contingents from 14 or 15 churches and synagogues, Ciesla said.

Photos from last year's parade will be on display from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the downtown Santori Public Library.

Outspoken, a Chicago-based LGBTQ storytelling group, will take the stage from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Ballydoyle on W. New York St.

There also will be an official parade after-party at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Two Brothers Roundhouse, Ciesla said.

For a full schedule of events, visit www.aurorapride.org.

If you go

What: Second annual Aurora Pride Parade

When: Noon Sunday, June 9

Where: Downtown Aurora

Admission: Free

Info: aurorapride.org