Community Corner

Pride Fest 2013 Takes Over Halsted (PHOTOS)

The annual street festival hit Boystown over the weekend, and thousands gathered to take part in LGBT event. Check the photos and see if you recognize anyone at Pride.

Chicago’s 11th Annual Pride Fest celebration blew through Boystown Saturday and Sunday, bringing along tons of musical acts and thousands of people filled with pride.

While this is the first year Pride Fest is scheduled on a different weekend than the parade, in past years, 50,000 people attended the LGBT street festival. That's compared to the estimated 850,000 who attended last year's Pride Parade.

And the fun isn't over. Now dubbed Pride Week, the days between the festival and parade are filled with fun events to keep Chicagoans entertained until Sunday. Some of the events are as follows:

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


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