Pride in the Park returns in June, tickets on sale March 15

Pride in the Park Chicago, the annual outdoor festival in Chicago's Grant Park, returns for a two-day inclusive LGBTQ Pride experience June 25 and 26, organizers told GoPride.com.

"We're so excited that we can bring back the Pride in the Park experience,” said lead organizer Dusty Carpenter.

Carpenter conceived the idea for Pride in the Park years ago. His company Dreambrite first introduced the event in 2019 as a one-day music festival. The inaugural Pride in the Park drew about 5,500 attendees.

Pride in the Park added a second day in 2020, only to be canceled completely due to COVID-19 concerns.

Last year, Pride in the Park returned with over 30,000 attendees.

“It was humbling to see the overwhelming support and enthusiasm it received last year, so we are most definitely committed to putting together an even greater experience this year,” said Carpenter.

Performances in 2021 included Tiësto, Gryffin, Chaka Khan, Tracy Young, Betty Who, Mila Jam, along with some legendary drag queens.

The line-up for this year's Pride in the Park is expected to be announced soon with early bird tickets set to go on sale Tuesday, March 15 at 10 a.m. CT at PrideParkChi.com.

Organizers said CircuitMom Productions will also return in 2022 with extravagant sets and performances.

Pride in the Park was the only traditional Pride event held last year in June as the annual Pride parade and festival were both canceled due to the pandemic.

Earlier this week, organizers of the annual Chicago Pride Parade told GoPride.com the parade would return June 26, beginning at noon. Chicago Pride Fest, the annual street festival organized by the Northalsted Business Alliance, will also be back June 17-19.

Carpenter added, “It's the community that showed up and showed out while being able to live their truth in such an embracing environment. As much as we celebrate Pride today as a party, it started as a protest by a courageous Black Trans woman, which immediately gained momentum as the queer community marched in the streets – now leading to the Pride Parades we see today. And now with the legendary Chicago Pride Parade making a return that Sunday, it's so meaningful that after the parade people can come downtown to continue the celebration.”