Chicago’s Pride Festival brought in more people than ever in 2024, resulting in many unexpected happenings during the 23rd annual Halsted Street gathering.
On June 22 the heat was challenging for many, and several attendees requested medical attention for dehydration and fainting. The north entrance’s line for $15 donations and bag searches wound down the block early in the afternoon on Saturday due to a narrow gated passage. The young fanbase of the 2 p.m. headliner struggled to arrive in time to see the talented dancer’s set.
Joelle Joanie “JoJo” Siwa has grown up on television before the public’s eyes on Lifetime’s Dance Moms, and she continues to evolve as an out and proud performer. The 21-year-old drank Fireball Cinnamon Whisky onstage and presented her popular TikTok choreography with her backup dance crew. Independent artists such as John Duff, Empress Of and Max Rae held their own during their prospective set times as well.
The wide world of drag has always been a staple for this street festival with both local and national representation sprinkled over the two days. RuPaul Drag Racers Sapphira Cristal and Bob the Drag Queen spoke up as strong activists throughout their music montages on the North Stage, reinforcing that Pride began as a protest.
The Waveland Stage provided an all-day dance craze that bled noise and circuit party enthusiasts out into the surrounding areas. The South Stage made space for local performers Sixteen Candles and Too Much Molly Band to strut their strong vocals.
English singer Natasha Bedingfield danced with drag queens, and had the fans singing along to her tracks “Unwritten” and “Love Like This.” Glee alumni Amber Riley accompanied by pianist Micah McLaurin performed the classic song “MacArthur Park” to wind down the wild weekend.
The community cleaned the area in preparation for the upcoming Pride parade that will experience a new start time and route on the following Sunday, June 30. For more on the festivities in Lake View, visit northalsted.com. Find the recently announced Market Days lineup on the website to begin making plans for August 10 and 11.
