Chicago Pride Fest is more than your typical street festival and is truly unique amongst the many neighborhood fests that occur throughout the city each summer. Set this year for Friday & Saturday, June 26 & 27, it is a non-stop celebration leading up to Chicago's iconic Pride Parade.

Hosted by the Northalsted Area Merchants Association (NAMA) - the same group behind the incredibly popular Northalsted Market Days® - Pride Fest is the equally crowd-pleasing gay and lesbian celebration of community pride that has grown tremendously over the years to become a signature event on the Chicago cultural calendar. In addition to growing in actual size, this year marks the first time that Pride Fest will take place over two days (instead of one afternoon and evening), offering attendees even more time to mingle among the masses while shopping for unique arts and crafts and picking up information from one of the many GLBT/not-for-profit organizations participating in the festival. Those who have hearty appetites and who need to have thirsts quenched will be more than satisfied by the variety of tasty food and cold beverages from area restaurants and bars that will also be available.

The expanded Pride Fest also means even more live entertainment. The main stage, sponsored by Bud Light, will be located on the north end of the festival area near Grace Street and features headlining act Deborah Gibson along with an impressive line-up of singing divas: Crystal Waters, Thelma Houston, Ultra Naté, Martha Wash, Inaya Day, and Jeanie Tracy. The south stage will be dedicated to local bands (i.e. 16 Candles, 7Deez, and Dot Dot Dot) and some of Chicago's finest performers in the gay community (i.e. ROTC and The Joans). Pride Fest will also present the PETCO Pet Parade as well as several drag shows featuring Chicago's Best Female Impersonators.