'Free To Be Proud' theme kicks off for Chicago Pride
CHICAGO — The biggest Pride parade season in the Midwest kicked off Sunday when Chicago Pride announced its four grand marshals and “Free To Be Proud” theme at Sidetrack the Video Bar. Grand marshals who will lead the Chicago Pride Parade June 28 are the Alliance of Illinois Judges; Tracy Baim, co-founder of the Windy City Times LGBTQ+ newspaper; philanthropist Evette Cardona; and civil rights advocate Mona Noriega. Tbe event also announced that the Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) will be the “Out Front” organization leading the parade on June 28. Pride Chicago picked the PRCC for its work combating HIV in Chicago’s Hispanic community. The parade, which draws an estimated million attendees, steps off at 11 a.m. Sun., June 28, at Grace and Broadway.
Flamy Grant performs in Batavia, Chicago this week
CHICAGO — Flamy Grant, the drag-adorned high-energy singer of folk and pop music, returns to the Chicago area for two shows this week. She’ll perform at 7 p.m. Thursday evening at Unity Fox Valley in Batavia. Then on Friday, Grant performs at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Chicago. Grant will sing award-winning songs, crack jokes and spin yarns from her life and experiences. She received a nomination for Best Album at the 2026 International Folk Music Awards in January for her second album “Church.” Grant also started a Kickstarter campaign in May for her third album “Glorybound” that has already hit its funding goal. Unity Fox Valley is at 230 Webster St. in Batavia, and First Presbyterian Church is at 5150 N. Northwest Highway.
'Pride Night Out' celebrates Oak Park restaurants Thursday
OAK PARK — Eat, drink, shop and celebrate Pride month at the fourth annual Pride Night Out, a special edition of Oak Park’s weekly done-around Thursday Night Out. The evening allows attendees to order food and drinks from a variety of Oak Park restaurants from one $25 ticket from 5 to 9 p.m. Pride Night Out will also have live music from R&B band West End 40 and drag queens roaming downtown Oak Park courtesy of the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce.
