IML 2017 welcomes leather and fetish community to Chicago, May 25-29
Wed. May 24, 2017 9:35 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
photo credit // anthony meade
Chicago, IL -
International Mr. Leather opens Thursday welcoming the leather and fetish world to Chicago this Memorial Day weekend.
Now in its 39th year, IML draws nearly 20,000 to downtown Chicago and Boystown for a celebration of everything leather and fetish. The five days of non-stop events will be hosted for a third year at the Congress Plaza Hotel, 520 S. Michigan Ave.
IML weekend is filled with conventions, workshops, and parties all celebrating a shared love of leather, rubber, sports gear, pup play, and much more. All the events are organized around the annual competition to crown International Mr. Leather as well as the newer International Mr. Bootblack.
This year, IML events start a day earlier on Thursday, May 25 with Opening Ceremonies, which includes the introduction of contestants and judges, at the Congress Plaza Hotel from 8:30-10:30 p.m. The Pecs and Personality event, where hopefuls will strut their stuff to show off their physiques, stage presence and public speaking abilities, is Saturday, May 27 at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Parkway, beginning at 8 p.m. Contestants reconvene on Sunday, May 28 for the International Mr. Leather Contest at 6 p.m.
Related: 2017 IML Events
All these events aside, however, nothing says IML like the annual Leather Market, hosted again this year at the Congress Plaza Hotel between two enormous convention halls. Featuring over 120 vendors from across the U.S., the Market offers an amazing assortment of leather and fetish goods and an even more amazing opportunity for people watching. Those not holding an IML weekend pass will need a Day Pass to enter, with the $15 donation going to Chicago's Leather Archives and Museum. The Leather Market opens at 11 a.m. during the weekend, closing at 7 p.m. on Saturday, 5 p.m. on Sunday, and 4 p.m. on Monday.
Two of the weekend's biggest and most highly anticipated events are the Victory Celebration and Black and Blue Ball, the annual circuit-type parties that bring contestants, winners, and IML revelers together to shake, sweat and dance it out.
After the new International Mr. Leather is crowned on Sunday, the crowd will flock, per tradition, to the House of Blues, 329 N Dearborn, for the Victory Celebration featuring DJ Eddie Martinez. The favorite IML closing event, Black & Blue Ball, returns to Sound-Bar, 226 W Ontario, on Monday, May 29.
For social media updates, follow @LiveAtIML and @IMLchicago for official announcements. Organizers encourage the hashtags #IML2017 and #IMBB2017.
International Mr. Leather website: www.imrl.com
Now in its 39th year, IML draws nearly 20,000 to downtown Chicago and Boystown for a celebration of everything leather and fetish. The five days of non-stop events will be hosted for a third year at the Congress Plaza Hotel, 520 S. Michigan Ave.
IML weekend is filled with conventions, workshops, and parties all celebrating a shared love of leather, rubber, sports gear, pup play, and much more. All the events are organized around the annual competition to crown International Mr. Leather as well as the newer International Mr. Bootblack.
This year, IML events start a day earlier on Thursday, May 25 with Opening Ceremonies, which includes the introduction of contestants and judges, at the Congress Plaza Hotel from 8:30-10:30 p.m. The Pecs and Personality event, where hopefuls will strut their stuff to show off their physiques, stage presence and public speaking abilities, is Saturday, May 27 at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Parkway, beginning at 8 p.m. Contestants reconvene on Sunday, May 28 for the International Mr. Leather Contest at 6 p.m.
Related: 2017 IML Events
All these events aside, however, nothing says IML like the annual Leather Market, hosted again this year at the Congress Plaza Hotel between two enormous convention halls. Featuring over 120 vendors from across the U.S., the Market offers an amazing assortment of leather and fetish goods and an even more amazing opportunity for people watching. Those not holding an IML weekend pass will need a Day Pass to enter, with the $15 donation going to Chicago's Leather Archives and Museum. The Leather Market opens at 11 a.m. during the weekend, closing at 7 p.m. on Saturday, 5 p.m. on Sunday, and 4 p.m. on Monday.
Two of the weekend's biggest and most highly anticipated events are the Victory Celebration and Black and Blue Ball, the annual circuit-type parties that bring contestants, winners, and IML revelers together to shake, sweat and dance it out.
After the new International Mr. Leather is crowned on Sunday, the crowd will flock, per tradition, to the House of Blues, 329 N Dearborn, for the Victory Celebration featuring DJ Eddie Martinez. The favorite IML closing event, Black & Blue Ball, returns to Sound-Bar, 226 W Ontario, on Monday, May 29.
For social media updates, follow @LiveAtIML and @IMLchicago for official announcements. Organizers encourage the hashtags #IML2017 and #IMBB2017.
International Mr. Leather website: www.imrl.com