Gay downtown chicago
LGBTQ+ Chicago weekend itinerary
You&#;ll need more than two days to hit all of Chicago&#;s LGBTQ+ hotspots — but a weekend here is a good launch. Whether you value the nonstop party vibe or a little Midwestern charm, Chicago’s inclusive neighborhoods offer something for everyone. Here&#;s how to spend a weekend exploring Chicago&#;s LGBTQ+ communities.
Saturday
Morning
Abode to boutique shopping, vibrant nightlife, and one of the oldest LGBTQ+ communities in the Merged States, the East Lakeview neighborhood of Northalsted (aka Boystown) has an power all its own.
Stroll along North Halsted Street — lined with fabulous shopping, trendy restaurants, lively bars, and vigorous dance clubs — and grab some brunch at laidback mainstay Drew&#;s on Halsted. Fill up the rest of your morning with a self-guided tour of The Legacy Walk, a one-of-a-kind outdoor museum saunter that celebrates Queer history and heroes.
Afternoon
Enjoy elevated pub fare in cozy surroundings at Wilde (grab a leather booth or a spot by the fireplace). Then perform a little neighborhood shopping at the
LGBTQ+ nightlife in Chicago: queer and lesbian bars, clubs, and more
Chicago’s nightlife is a lot like the city itself — inclusive, diverse, and welcoming to all. It’s also a whole lot of amusement. Our gay and queer woman bars have a minuscule bit of something for everyone, with late-night lounges, dance clubs,burlesque and kingly shows, and long-standing neighborhood watering holes in almost every corner of the city. And each comes with their own unusual history and vibe.
Check out some of the finest gay bars and clubs to experience Chicago’s gay nightlife scene.
Jeffery Pub
One of the city’s oldest queer bars, Jeffery Pub is a neighborhood institution. The South Shore staple is also one of Chicago’s first black-owned gay bars, making it all the more meaningful for the spot’s many regulars. Don’t miss the live business, like karaoke nights, Silky Soul Sundays, and a lively dance floor featuring everything from pop to house music.
Big Chicks
This lively and colorful spot is part LGBTQ hangout, part art gallery. The walls are plastered with the owner’s personal collection of paintin
Chicago Pride Parade
Chicago's Pride celebration consists of a packed month of festivities and events, culminating with the Chicago Pride Parade, which traditionally takes place the last Sunday of June.
Chicago Pride Fest takes place along North Halsted St. in the North Side neighborhood colloquially referred to a ‘Boystown’ the weekend prior to the parade.
The Chicago Pride Parade (June 29, 11am)
The 54th annual Chicago Pride Parade steps off at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 29, from the corners of Sheridan and Broadway ( North) on Chicago's north side.
The parade treks through the north side of the urban area, ending near the intersection of Diversey Parkway and Sheridan Road in Lincoln Park, walking through some of the city's most vibrant neighborhoods.
The annual celebration, which started as a protest march in after the Stonewall Riots in New York City, has grown into the city's second-largest parade of nearly entries, typically attracting more than 1 million people to multiple north
The 34 best LGBTQ+ bars in Chicago
Photograph: Courtesy Sidetrack
Northalsted, aka "Boystown," is the historical center of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ scene, but superb gay bars are all over the city.
Chicago has always been a trailblazing city when it comes to spaces for the LGBTQ community. One of the first American LGBT rights organizations, the Society for Human Rights, was founded in Chicago in , more than 40 years before Stonewall. And Northalsted, the gay nightlife hub also established as "Boystown," became the first officially-designated gay village in a major city in
These days, while a night out on Northalsted is still a joyful blur of boozy slushies and death drops, queer nightlife in Chicago is expansive, creative and thriving all over the city. From Rogers Park to South Shore, from James Beard-nominated cocktail bars to beloved, homey dives, there's a queer bar to fit your vibe. Oh, and don't forget about drag brunch. You'll need it after a darkness out on the town.
RECOMMENDED: Beverage at the best bars in Chicago
Been there, done that? Think again, m