Pride, Weekend-Long Cubs Games Will Likely Lead to Traffic Snarl

By: Andy Ambrosius

Living on the North Side is all about living in the entertainment capital of Chicago, but sometimes that is a double-edged sword.

Chicago’s Annual Pride Fest celebration in Boystown is slated to kick off Saturday with commuters undoubtedly starting to filter in on Friday. But just blocks away will be another crowd-gathering event: a 3-day Chicago Cubs home stretch.

The baseball team will play at Wrigley Field against the Houston Astros the entire weekend, adding thousands of sports enthusiasts to the 50,000 people on average that attend Pride Fest.

It’s not the 850,000 that attended the Pride Parade like in 2012, but it could certainly cause a traffic scuffle. Thankfully, the parade is now a week after the festival, and the Cubs will be playing in Seattle that weekend.

Games are slated to start at Wrigley Field on Friday at 1:20 p.m., Saturday at 3:05 p.m. and Sunday at 1:20 p.m. Pride will take over Halsted Street on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9p.m.

Chicago’s 11th Annual Pride Fest celebration is also returning to Boystown, and this year, plenty has changed. The party will take over Halsted Street on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9p.m.

But that doesn’t mean those with pride won’t still be celebrating Friday night. Boystown staples are throwing parties in lieu of the festival being pushed back a day. Examples include:

• Roscoe’s featuring Ana Matronic of the Scissor Sisters live on the dance floor
• Scarlet’s Be Whoever You Want to Be party
• Sidetrack’s Pride Fest Kick-Off party
• Berlin's Cosmix Pride Fest Weekend Kick-Off Party

Parking Restrictions, Street Closures and Traffic

Halsted Street from Grace Street to Addison Street will be closed for the festival, as well as Waveland Avenue from Halsted to North Broadway. Those closures start at 1 a.m. on Saturday and will be lifted at 3 a.m. on Monday.

There’s to be no parking on either of those streets during the festival, or on Bradley Street from Halsted to the nearest alley to the west. All traffic will be diverted around the street closures via North Broadway, including the No. 8 bus that runs down Halsted.

Stage Performances

North Stage on Saturday

• 12:30 p.m.—Pride Drag Show
• 2 p.m.—Aubrey O'Day
• 3 p.m.—Pride Drag Show
• 4:30 p.m.—Jessica Sutta
• 5:30 p.m.—Pride Drag Show
• 6:30 p.m.—Blu Cantrell
• 7 p.m.—Pride Drag Show
• 8 p.m.—Sascha Gradiva
• 8:30 p.m.—Xelle
• 9 p.m.—Deva 

South Stage on Saturday

• 1 p.m.—Tandem 6
• 2:30 p.m.—Chicago Gay Men's Chorus
• 3:30 p.m.—Chicago Spirit Brigade
• 3:30 p.m.—Amy and Freddy
• 6 p.m.—Wedding Banned
• 7:30 p.m.—Windy City Cowboys 
• 8 p.m.—Rock Candy 

North Stage on Sunday

• Noon—Miss Foozie's Pet Parade Registration and Start
• 1 p.m.—Pride Drag Show
• 2:30 p.m.—Deborah Cox
• 3 p.m.—Pride Drag Show
• 4 p.m.—Ultra Nate
• 5 p.m.—Inaya Day                
• 6 p.m.—Neon Hitch
• 7 p.m.—Sandy B.
• 8 p.m.—Janice Robinson and Tameka Star

South Stage on Sunday

• 1 p.m.—Miss Foozie's Pet Parade Contest
• 2 p.m.—HAG
• 3:45 p.m.—Chicago Spirit Brigade
• 4 p.m.—The Personnel
• 6 p.m.—Rod Tuffcurls
• 7:30 p.m.—Sixteen Candles

Monday, June 24

• LGBT Trip to Six Flags Great America: Special discount tickets and transportation will be available. Prices to be announced soon.

Wednesday, June 26

• Fireworks Boat Cruise: The Big Gay Cocktail Club will host a 3-hour cruise complete with fireworks. Boarding starts at 6:30 p.m, and the cruise sails from 7-10 p.m. Tickets cost $34, will be available for sale soon, and include appetizers.

Friday, June 28

• Pride Pub Crawl: Bars and restaurants down North Halsted Street will help kick off the weekend with specials. Schedule and said specials have yet to be announced.

Saturday, June 29

• Proud to Run 10K/5k Walk or Run: The race celebrating the LGBT community kicks off at 8 a.m. Saturday at Montrose Harbor, racing up to Hollywood Beach in Edgewater. Tickets cost $35 for pre-registration and $40 the day of the race.

Sunday, June 30

• Annual Pride Parade