Major Pride events take iconic skyline and lakefront stages today

Chicago, IL - Two major Pride events downtown are staged front and center; surrounded by the city's beautiful skyline and Lake Michigan as their backdrop.

Pride in the Park

The inaugural Pride In The Park Chicago festival lights up the the Petrillo Bandshell in historic Grant Park with a nine-hour festival that's filled with top national and local performers featuring music ranging from EDM to hip hop/rap to '80s hits to pop.

Two-time Grammy-nominated producer/DJ Steve Aoki will be on-stage at 6:30 p.m, followed by singer and reality star Tamar Braxton at 8 p.m. Australian rapper Iggy Azalea headlines the stage at 9 p.m.

Miss DJ Meg kicks off the festivities at 1 p.m, followed by Todrick Hall (1:45 p.m.) and Coco Montrese (2:30 p.m.). The event also features pop icon Taylor Dane; Kathy Sledge, known for her hit "We Are Family;" plus LGBTQ pop artist Gia Woods, and others.

"Holding (Pride in the Park) in Grant Park puts the LGBT community front and center," said Chicagoan Dusty Carpenter, the president of Dreambrite, which has spent about two years planning and producing Pride in the Park Chicago.

General admission tickets are available at $69.54, which includes service and facility fees. There also are a limited number of VIP tickets available which include a special entrance, premium viewing front-of-stage barricaded area, VIP access bars and premium bathrooms.

Tickets can be purchased at https://prideintheparkchicago.com/. A portion of tickets processed will benefit the Center on Halsted in Chicago's Boystown neighborhood.

Pride at the Wheel and the Pier

And just around the the lakefront, the iconic Navy Pier is hosting it's fourth year of Pride events today with the rainbow-adorned Centennial Ferris wheel as it's beacon.

"We are continuing with our tradition of really taking the extra step in making our LGBTQIA+ friends feel welcome at Navy Pier," Erika Taylor, the pier's Director of Productions and Operations, told GoPride. "It's in our mission that Navy Pier "welcomes all" and while that statement applies to all 365 days of the year, it's important for us to honor this particular group in our community." 

The event features a day full of family friendly activities starting with a craft area and learning space at the West Platform with the Chicago Children's Museum and PFLAG. The day includes performances inclduing Story Time With Drag Queens, the Lakeside Pride Marching Band, and the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus.

"We have some great DJs lined up in the in the Miller Lite Beer Garden this year. CEDEÑO, DJ Milty Evans, DJ Lori Branch, and DJ Lady D are going to make for a great day. We are also excited to have DJ All the Way Kay spinning on the Wave Wall too. Tons of great artists to watch into the evening," Taylor added.

The evening will be capped with a special Pride edition of the Pier's Saturday night fireworks. Navy Pier Pride is presented by American Airlines and runs from noon to 11 pm, Saturday, June 29th on Chicago's Navy Pier. Admission is free.

Everything you need to know for the 2019 Chicago Pride Parade