The Midwest is home to diverse Pride Parades and festivals in every state. From some of the largest, and most famous Pride parades in the country like Chicago Pride Parade to smaller, community-orientated Pride parades like Woodstock, Illinois’ PrideFest, there are truly celebrations for everyone.
I’ll never forget my first Pride parade. My closeted 16-year-old self took the Metra from the Chicago suburbs down to Chicago’s gayborhood. It was crowded, colorful, and alive. I remember feeling emotional, like I was a part of something important. As a kid who never really felt like they fit in, I got to witness the celebration of just being you and the celebration of belonging to something bigger than yourself. It was impactful. What was your first experience at Pride like?
This year I’ll be attending multiple Prides, including Woodstock, Illinois! Nearly 20 years after my first pride, I’m honored to take the Metra out of the city up to Woodstock to experience their 6th annual PrideFest.
Big thank you to Real Woodstock for sponsoring this article and leading the way for smaller Midwest towns putting on their own unique Pride celebrations.
Overall, the Midwest does an incredible job of bringing together queer folks from across the region (and in some cases, the world) for annual Pride celebrations of love, diversity, and equality, while also honoring those who have paved the way for us and celebrating how far we’ve come.
Below are 10 of the top Midwest Pride celebrations in 2024, in no particular order.
Woodstock PrideFest, Woodstock, Illinois (June 8th – 9th)
Since hosting their first Pride festival in 2019, Woodstock, Illinois’ Pridefest has gained popularity and continues to expand each year with a full schedule of community-centered Pride events perfect for the whole family.
This year, Woodstock’s PrideFest schedule will include a Pride art show, PrideFest Rainbow Run, a Pride pub crawl, and many other community-led events, including their annual Pride Promenade, which encourages LGBTQ+ residents, allies, and supporters to “glam up” their homes in celebration of the weekend’s festivities!
On the final morning of Woodstock’s Pride weekend, festival goers are encouraged to boast their brightest Pride attire and join in on the celebration at the 2024 PrideFest parade! The parade will begin on June 9th at 11AM and will start and end at the Dean Street School. Woodstock has excitedly announced that the parade route has been expanded this year, and will now extend along Dean Street, Benton Street, and Tryon Street.
To stay up to date on Woodstock Pride’s event schedule and year-round engagements for the LGBTQ+ community, click HERE to check out their website.
Driving distance from Chicago: 1.5 Hours (also accessible via the Metra)
Chicago Pride Parade, Chicago, Illinois (June 30th)
The Chicago Pride Parade is proudly known for being the largest Pride parade in the Midwest, and one of the largest events of its kind in the entire country! Chicago’s Pride parade is part of an over 50-year tradition that concludes the city’s month-long celebration of LGBTQ+ life, culture, and community. This year, over 120 groups will be featured in the Pride Parade.
The 53rd annual Chicago Pride Parade starts one hour earlier this year at 11AM and starts at Sheridan and Broadway.
Chicago also hosts Chicago Pride Fest, a massive two-day Pride celebration in Chicago’s famous Northalsted neighborhood (aka Boystown) the weekend before the parade (June 22 + 23). This year’s Pride Fest headliners include Natasha Bedingfield, Jojo Siwa, Bob the Drag Queen, Amber Riley, and many more.
Chicago also hosts Pride South Side which caters to and uplifts queer BIPOC folks. The 6th annual Pride South Side festival takes place July 6 this year.
Click here for the parade route and more information. For an extended list of all Illinois Pride celebrations happening in 2024, check out this article.
Indy Pride, Indianapolis, Indiana (June 8th)
Originating as a small gathering in the 1980s, the Indianapolis Pride festivities have evolved over the years into a beacon of visibility and solidarity for the LGBTQ+ community in the heart of Indiana, and stands today as a vibrant and inclusive extravaganza that’s filled with music, art, and entertainment options for the entire queer community.
This year’s festival will be held in Military Park on June 8th, and will welcome a variety of popular headliners including The Beaches, Vincint, and Thelma Houston. Beyond the city’s iconic Pride fest, Indy Pride attendees can also look forward to the annual Pride parade, Rainbow 5K run, and a month-long calendar of queer community events.
Resource: Tickets for the Indy Pride festival cost $10.00 per person and can be purchased HERE.
Driving distance from Chicago: 3 Hours
Pride in the CLE, Cleveland, Ohio (June 1st)
Pride in the CLE is an energetic celebration of LGBTQ+ identity and community in Cleveland. The day’s signature event is the annual Pride march through downtown Cleveland, which showcases not only the solidarity and strength of the LGBTQ+ community, but also the ongoing fight for equality and acceptance. Visitors are encouraged to join in and march as their authentic selves with Cleveland’s proud LGBTQ+ community.
After the kick-off march, there’s an all-day Pride festival featuring an array of performances from headliners such as Atlanta-based pop artist Siena Liggins, along with multiple community booths, and food vendors. Pride in the CLE will take place throughout all three sections of the Cleveland Mall, and is free for all to attend.
For more details on Pride in the CLE’s festival location and event lineup, CLICK HERE.
Driving distance from Chicago: 5 Hours
Motor City Pride, Detroit, Michigan (June 8th – 9th)
Michigan’s largest pride festival, Motor City Pride, is a weekend-long event filled with exciting celebration and activism in Detroit’s Hart Plaza.
For Motor City Pride 2024, the festival is set to host an impressive lineup of events, including top performances by nationally- acclaimed LGBTQ+ musicians, a series of art installations by local artists, and an impressive vendor selection. With the theme “Unity in Diversity,” this year’s Motor City Pride will see over 150 groups marching in the Pride parade on June 8th, making a powerful statement about the strength and diversity of the LGBTQ+ presence in Detroit.
Driving distance from Chicago: 4 Hours
Resource: Tickets for the festival will cost $5.99 per person, per day and can be purchased HERE.
Grand Rapids Pride, Grand Rapids, Michigan (June 22)
Since the city held its first Pride event in 1988, Grand Rapids Pride has grown to be the largest annual one-day festival in Grand Rapids, Michigan with over 25,000 attendees.
Festival highlights include shows from renowned drag performers such as Big Freedia, a nationally-acclaimed hip-hop artist who’s known as the larger-than-life ambassador of New Orleans Bounce music!
After enjoying the all-day entertainment at Calder Plaza, many celebrants choose to end their night at The Apartment Lounge, Michigan’s oldest gay bar!
Driving distance from Chicago: 3 Hours
Community Pride, Saugatuck – Douglas, Michigan (May 30th – June 2nd)
Saugatuck, Michigan is a popular resort town famous for its vibrant art scene and thriving queer community. With over 140 queer-owned businesses operating within the Saugatuck city limits, Saugatuck is the perfect place to celebrate Pride.
Each year, Saugatuck hosts its lively 4-day Community Pride festival attracting visitors from across the Midwest. Events include Go Girl!, Saugatuck’s sapphic-centered weekend party, the Pride bowling kickoff party, and Pride in the Park (Saugatuck Pride’s premier event).
Saugatuck Pride concludes its weekend of festivities with a Tea Dance party on June 2nd, which will be hosted at The Dunes, an LGBTQ+ owned-and-operated resort.
Driving distance from Chicago: 2 Hours
Magic Pride Festival, Madison, Wisconsin (August 18th)
If you’re looking for a charming Midwest Pride celebration that’s happening outside of the month of June, then Madison, Wisconsin’s Magic Pride Festival could be a great option! The acronym MAGIC stands for Madison Area Gay Interim Committee and was partially formed and named in response to an anti-gay campaign of the late 1970s / early 1980s, as a delightfully rebellious show of solidary and support for Madison’s LGBTQ+ community members.
Magic Pride’s 2024 event schedule includes a stage show with local LGBTQ+ performers, a vast vendor area, and several activity options for youths and families.
Entrance into the Magic Pride Festival and picnic is free to anyone who would like to attend.
Driving distance from Chicago: 2.5 Hours
CR Pride, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (July 6th)
The Cedar Rapids Pride Festival, also known as CR Pride, is a family-friendly celebration of inclusivity and diversity, bringing together the LGBTQ+ community and allies in Cedar Rapids for a day filled with entertainment, education, and community-building activities.
While Cedar Rapids holds a year-round schedule of events for the LGBTQ+ community, the town hosts two Pride-specific celebrations annually; the CR Pride festival on July 6th, and the CR Pride Parade on June 10th.
CR Pride festival goers can expect an array of local entertainment and vendors and are encouraged to conclude their day of fun at Belle’s Basix, Cedar Rapids’ premier gay bar. The festival will be held at NewBo City Market and is free to all who would like to attend.
Driving distance from Chicago: 4 Hours
Pride St. Louis, Missouri (June 29th – 30th)
For 40 years and counting, St. Louis has organized one of the largest attended Pride festivals in the Midwest region, inspiring hundreds of thousands of locals and tourists from the Midwest and beyond to travel to St. Louis to experience their annual Pride celebration.
The city of itself is proudly home to a vibrant queer community, plus multiple popular gayborhoods. While you’re visiting STL for Pride weekend, a trip to The Grove neighborhood should be a must. Catch one of the nightly drag shows at Prism or stop by Rehab Bar & Grill for a cocktail and one of their live performances.
St. Louis Pride 2024 will be hosted throughout the St. Louis festival grounds on June 29th – 30th, with their Grand Pride Parade being held on June 30th at 12 PM. The annual Grand Pride Parade showcases the creative talents and services of hundreds of local LGBTQ-friendly community groups and businesses, and is one of the shining highlights of St. Louis’s Pride weekend.
St. Louis also hosts the nation’s second oldest Black Gay Pride event, Black Pride weekend, which will be held on August 15th – 18th. Location and event schedule for this year’s Black Pride will be posted soon to the organization’s website.
Driving distance from Chicago: 5 Hours
Resource: Standard admission into the STL’s Pride festival is free, or you can opt in for a VIP pass for $130.00 per person, which includes access to an air-conditioned tent area, reserved viewing space, and VIP bathroom access. VIP tickets can be purchased HERE.
Remember, the key to a memorable Pride celebration in 2024 is authenticity. Embrace who you are, love freely, and let your flag fly high. Happy Pride, everyone!
What is your favorite Pride in the Midwest? Comment your favorite.
For more LGBTQ+ Midwest travel guides, check out:
- 101+ Gay Things to Do in Chicago
- 75+ Things to Do in the Midwest
- 25 Fun Things to Do in Andersonville, Chicago
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