Three parks, three days of art celebrate gender non-conformity
CHICAGO — Three Chicago parks will take turns hosting the Trans-ilience: Chicago Trans Pride Festival from today to Saturday. Dance, drag, live music, puppeteering, standup comedy, painting and experimental arts will all be part of the free festival, coordinated by Gender Fucked Productions, a nonprofit that advances trans’, nonbinary and gender non-conforming equity through supporting artists.” Today, the festival happens at the westside location of Eckhart Park, 1330 W. Chicago Ave., from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, the north side of Chicago gets its focus, when the festival moves to Gill Park, 825 W. Sheridan Rd., from 6 to 8 p.m. The festival wraps up Saturday on Chicago’s south side at Hamilton Park, 513 W. 72nd St. from noon to 4 p.m. Â
Woodstock Unity reduces landfill waste with 'Free 4 All' no-cost garage sale
WOODSTOCK — Swing by Unity Spiritual Center of Woodstock Saturday for its Free 4 All Garage “Sale.” Focused on reducing landfill waste, this “sale” offers all items for free. “No price tags, no haggling, and no wallets required. We believe in the power of community, sharing, and keeping usable items out of landfills,” writes the Spiritual Center. Overall, the Unity denomination “honors the universal truths in all religions and respects each individual’s rights to choose a spiritual path.” Saturday’s Free 4 All is 9 a.m. to noon at the center, 225 W. Calhoun St.
Popcorn fundraiser supports Joliet Pride Fest, special needs kids
JOLIET — You have a chance to help raise money for the Joliet Pride Fest coming Sept.19, and a group that helps special needs kids, through the “Popcorn with a Purpose” fundraiser happening through Sunday. Thirteen different flavors of popcorn are available to order through the Joliet Pride Network and its collaboration with Double Good Popcorn, a business that collaborates on fundraising with nonprofits. Double Good sends 50 percent of every bag of popcorn to the nonprofit with which it is collaborating, and sends the other half to the Double Good Kids Foundation, a charity that provides “inclusive experiences and spaces that foster play, connection, and possibilities” for kids with special needs. You can either order individual bags of popcorn here, or email here to set up your own “pop-up store” and compete to win four VIP tickets to JPN’s PrideFest After Dark, happening the evening of Sept. 19 and valued at $120. Joliet Pridefest is noon to 10 p.m. Sept. 19 at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park, 210 W. Jefferson St.
