PrideFest features wide range of entertainment
BLOOMINGTON — One of Central Illinois’ largest Pride festivals is returning for its eighth year in downtown Bloomington Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. Bloomington-Normal PrideFest is expected to draw 10,000 to enjoy two stages of continuous entertainment, 125 business and community resource vendors, five food trucks and more. A blessing from clergy at the affirming Hope Church kicks off the event, and headliner Jen Porter performs at 7 p.m. Before and after, the day features the BN PrideFest Choir and The Penguin Project Singers; trans singer Jazzy Stars and musicians Justin Michael Brown, Ricky & Tyler, and Ammil Lyons; finals of the Pride Idol drag singing competition; and lots more drag. The Bloomington-Normal PrideFest began in 2018 as a 25th anniversary celebration of Bloomington’s queer bar, The Bistro, with 21 vendors and 1,000 attendees. Nationwide, Pride festivals honor the Stonewall Uprising of 1969 that catapulted LGBTQ+ civil rights activism to a new level. Learn more about the festival at its Facebook page here.
Queer comedians raise money Saturday for Pekin Pride
PEKIN — A trio of queer comedians are putting on a show to raise money for the Pekin Pride Festival Saturday at 7 p.m. The Pekin Pride Comedy Night will feature the Chicago-based Talia Clay and Gwen Rose, who both use comedy to discuss life as trans women and critique society’s treatment of queer people. The host will be Atlanta-based comedian Lauren Duncan. Comedy Night is co-organized by Pekin Pride and the Rural Equality Project, a nonprofit whose mission is to “promote, and encourage, equitable and diverse rural communities across Central Illinois.” Tickets are $20; get yours here. Proceeds benefit the second annual Pekin Pride Festival, happening Sat., Aug. 22. Find the laughs at Jukebox Comedy Club, 3527 W. Farmington Rd.
Latin Dance Night teaches Bachata every last Saturday
PEORIA — Learn the Dominican dance style of “bachata” under the stars, and in your national colors, at Saturday’s Casa De Arte’s Latin Dance Night. This class will help you learn and enjoy Bachata, which fuses bolero, Cha-Cha, Merengue and other Afro-Antillean dance genres, writes UNESCO. For this weekend’s event, dancers are encouraged to dress in style in the colors of their heritage. Bachata dancing starts at 8 p.m., and open social dancing with salsa, merengue and more is at 9 p.m. Solo and partner dancers are welcome. Admission is $5 to this event, which happens every last Saturday. Food is included; flip-flops and high-traction soles are not allowed. Latin Dance Night is organized by the Heartland Latin Dancers and happens at Casa De Arte, 306 Pecan St.
