NAPERVILLE – With live bands in the spotlight, and an extra focus on both senior citizens and youth, Naper Pride holds its fourth annual festival Saturday.
The all-day event is at Naper Settlement, a 13-acre living history museum. Happening in Illinois’ third-largest city, Naper Pride features pop tribute bands, kids’ crafts and games, 80 registered vendors, and more.
“What we want people to know is that this is a great place to come and hang out with community,” says co-founder Margie Wolf, who hopes the festival will draw more than 2,500 people. “It’s just people coming together out of love … when you walk through that gate, leave your worries there.”
Above, Beyond the Blonde performs covers of Pink, Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani and more female pop artists. They’ll perform at about 1:30 p.m. at Naper Pride.
Three local drag performers will also take the stage during the day.
In addition, the festival’s annual “Under the Rainbow” section is designed for “kids that don’t have a friend group, or a friend group that doesn’t mind picking up a kid,” Wolf says. Youth ages 12 to 17 gather in age-appropriate groups to enjoy crafts and games.
Naper Pride’s effort to accommodate kids and families is a key festival quality noted by attorney Ian Holzhauser, a city council member and festival sponsor.
“One of the wonderful things to see is how many young families come out and are showing their kids that there are many different people in the Naperville community who want to give back and do something positive,” he said. “We don’t all look or act or think the same, and that’s ok.”
Taylor Swift, Pink, Elton John cover bands among Naper Pride Fest performers
Live bands are the defining quality of Naper Pride Fest: seven will take the stage Saturday. They range from Chicagoland cover bands, to Barnes and Chicago-based rocker Cheryl Rodey, to the eight-piece jazz ensemble One Foot in the Groove.
“We’re branching out a little bit from specifically gay music or pride-associated music,” Wolf says. “We’re bringing in a couple of different genres.”
Here’s a peek at the festival schedule, with links to learn more about each performer:
Noon Chicago-based teen vocalist and actor Willa Zatzenbloom performs the National Anthem.
12:15 p.m. Naperville-based spiritual leader Drew Jones Marquez, who has led music at churches in Naperville and Chicao, performs “Lift Every Voice”
1 p.m. Myles Barnes, whom Queering the Burbs described as a “preacher’s kid turned Pride headliner” from Aurora, takes the stage
1:30 p.m. Beyond the Blonde brings its covers of Pink, Gwen Stefani, and Lady Gaga, along with other female rockers. The Chicago-based band is led by vocalist Charity Marie.
3 p.m. One Foot in the Groove performs at Chicago Bulls games; tomorrow, they’ll bring their “horn-driven” sound to Naper Pride.
4:30 p.m. Sparks Fly: A Taylor Swift Experience is a musical collective that includes two Chicago-area up-and-coming vocalists from the Chicago area.
Above, Keri Traid and Miss Moscato will lead a 7 p.m. “Summer Dance.
7 p.m. Drag favorites Keri Traid & Miss Moscato host a Summer Dance
7:45 p.m. The Cheryl Rodey Band, the Chicago-based rock quartet, headlines with a one-hour show.
9 p.m. Crocodile Rockstar, an Elton John tribute band and impersonator from the Chicago area, wraps up the festival with a one-hour show.
The day also features 80 registered vendors including private businesses and nonprofits. Resources on hand will include the DuPage County Health Department and mobile HIV testing and vaccinations.
The county’s animal services department also bring its animal adoption van. Wolf said last year, Naper Pride helped 30 cats find homes.
Above, Myles Barnes and Cheryl Rodey are among the live performers to be featured at Naper Pride.
Naper Pride stays busy year-round with service, social events
Wolf says Naper Pride has worked hard to build a year-round presence in the Naperville area. For example, it hosts a monthly seniors gathering.
Each holiday season, the nonprofit participates in a Naper Pride Cares effort to provide holiday meals to needy families. The group also helps resolve conflicts throughout the community; Wolf provided the example of ironing out a potential conflict between an employee and their bosses, that was due to a language barrier,
The group collaborates with SAGE Advocacy and Services for LGBTQ+ Elders. It founded a Facebook page devoted to Illinois Pride organizations sharing expertise with each other. And Wolf says Naper Pride has tried to help other nearby communities who are starting their own Pride groups.
Coming up, the group will also host its annual National Coming Out Day event Oct. 16. This year’s theme will be exploring the experience of LGBTQ+ people during the Holocaust, Wolf said.
Naper Pride will also host a Transgender Day of Remembrance event in early November, featuring musician Wrabel performing his transgender empowerment song The Village.
Saturday’s festival takes place at Naper Settlement, 523 S Webster St., from noon to 10 p.m. Pre-purchased admission, available here, is $10 for adults, $5 for youth, with kids 10 and under free. Admission at the gate is $15 for adults and $10 for kids older than 10. For more information on Naper Pride, see its website at naperpride.org, or its Facebook page.
