Chicago Social Butterflies

Pride & Power: LGBTQ+ Coaching in Fitness
2026-05-09 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | IL
This event highlights the purpose of LGBTQ+ coaches in the fitness industry, with a focus on strength training, nutrition, and building inclusive spaces. Through real experiences and practical insight, we’ll explore how identity shapes coaching, client relationships, and long term success in fitness. Whether you’re looking to improve your training, better understand nutrition, or find a space where you feel seen and supported, this event brings together passion, education, and community. Join us to learn how LGBTQ+ professionals are redefining what strength, health, and confidence look like, both in and out of the gym.

Country Dancing at Whiskey Girl Tavern
2026-05-13 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-06-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Whiskey Girl Tavern, 6318 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60660, United States
Join us for a fun night of FREE Country Dancing Lessons at Whiskey Girl Tavern!
Enjoy your drinks and food while learning some fun and easy line dance lessons and some two-stepping with the Second City Outlaws!
NO COVER!!!

Ragbagalia Arts Fest
2026-05-16 14:00 - 2026-05-17 01:00 | Sleeping Village, 3734 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL, 60618, United States
As Chicago emerges from its winter burrow, a new cultural fixture is set to bloom with a historic headlining performance. Ragbagalia, a brand-new femme and queer arts festival, officially announces its inaugural event for May 16, 2026, at Sleeping Village, featuring the legendary ESG on their highly-anticipated “Final Dance” tour.
For many, this will be the final opportunity to witness the seismic influence of ESG—a band whose minimalist funk and post-punk rhythms provided the DNA for hip-hop and house music—on a Chicago stage. Their farewell performance anchors a curated “ragbag” team of
artists dedicated to reclaiming space for voices that deserve to be heard. “In today’s political and cultural climate, safer, femme-forward spaces feel more necessary than ever,” says Tracy Evans, Founder of Ragbagalia. “Bringing ESG’s ‘Final Dance’ to this stage is the ultimate tribute to the underground. We are pairing these icons with emerging voices to build something that is both revolutionary and a celebration of the legacy they’ve built.”
Inspired by the radical history of the Riot Grrrl movement and the space-making narratives of authors like Sara Marcus and Carrie Brownstein, Ragbagalia disrupts the traditional festival model. The event is entirely women-led and multidisciplinary, centering women, femme, queer,
and marginalized artists across music, performance, and visual art.
Alongside ESG, the lineup includes Chicago’s own She’s Crafty (all-female Beastie Boys tribute), and powerhouse acts Period Bomb, Uniity, and Pleeay. Rooted in the city’s supportive arts community, Evans and co-leader Ashley Barlow (co-founder of littleHEADbutt Studios) have designed Ragbagalia to prioritize safety, authenticity, and accessibility. Held at the ADA-accessible Sleeping Village, the festival emphasizes affordability
with an all-day ticket that includes live music and a curated pop-up gallery. In keeping with its commitment to equity, profits from the event go directly to the participating artists, with remaining funds donated to the festival’s primary partner, Punk Rock Saves Lives.

David Sedaris in Chicago
2026-05-17 14:00 - 16:00 | Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago, IL, 60605, United States
David Sedaris, renowned humorist and best-selling author, will perform at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, IL on May 17th, 2026 at 2:00 PM. Known for his witty storytelling and sharp observations of life, Sedaris captivates audiences with his unique comedic perspective. This performance is sure to be an engaging afternoon filled with laughter and insightful anecdotes.

GRABBY Awards
2026-05-21 - 2026-05-23 | IL
The annual GRABBYS Award Show highlighting top talent and performances in the gay erotic film industry will take place in Chicago on
Saturday, May 23rd.
Celebrating its 27th anniversary, the GRABBYS are excited to announce cohosts Chi Chi LaRue and returning again this year the incredible Morgan McMichaels from “RuPaulʼs Drag Race.” A new category is also being presented this year: Best Content Creator.
At www.GrabbyAwards.com, nominations will launch on January 15th and run through February 15th. Voting for the award nominees will be open March 5th, and run through April 2nd. Tickets will be available for purchase online at www.GrabbyAwards.com or by calling 773-707-2660 beginning April 15th.
This years host hotel will be The Wade located at 644 N. Lakeshore Drive with rates starting at $169+ Tax. www.AwardsShowHotel.com
The show will once again be held at the Metro Theater, 3730 N. Clark Street. Doors open at 6 p.m. with The Red Carpet beginning at that time with the show starting promptly at 7 p.m. There will be a cash bar prior to and during the show.
Numerous parties and events surround the GRABBYS and will be announced this spring.

Planting Power and Perseverance: Partners in Dignity Soiree 2026
2026-05-21 18:00 - 21:00 | Venue West, 221 N. Paulina St., Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
Join us for the 2026 Partners in Dignity Soiree: Planting Power and Perseverance. Brave Space Alliance’s annual fundraiser and awards ceremony will feature a cocktail hour, light bites, an opportunity to meet pillars in Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community, and impact-based inspiration during a fireside chat with our new CEO.
On a journey of collective power and future building, we’ll reflect on the impact of the past year’s political turbulence and come together to strengthen our community for what is to come.
Together, we’ll honor our Partners in Dignity Awardees—a few of the extraordinary individuals and partners who’ve helped make our achievements possible—and raise a glass as we toast to resilience, unity, and the exciting future we’re building together!

Transcendent Souls IV
2026-05-22 19:00 - 20:15 | Fourth Presbyterian Church, Buchanan Chapel, 126 E Chestnut St, Chicago, IL, 60611
Transcendent Souls IV is an all-cello concert of works by trans composers that explore the intersection of transness and spirituality. Often described as the instrument most similar to the human voice, the cello offers a beautiful but imperfect imitation, profound expression mediated by the body that produces it. This tension rhymes with religious and trans experience: the immortal soul in a mortal body, the self reaching toward what it might become.
Join us for a concert of works by Ahmed Alabaca, Lily Koslow, Jadie Reeves, Rina Sawayama, Ari H. Scott, and Asher Sizemore performed by a flock of trans cellists! Thanks so much to Fourth Presbyterian Church for welcoming us into their space, and to the Negaunee Music Institute at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for their generous support.
Free Admission (RSVP) • Sensory-Friendly • Masks Encouraged

Zentrø
2026-05-23 21:00 - 2026-05-24 02:00 | Epiphany Center for the Performing Arts, 201 S. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, United States
Zentrø, our Global Kink and Leather Main Event alongside Brüt, will be at the Epiphany Center for the Arts on Saturday, May 23rd. Our DJ lineup includes local legend Blu 9 alongside the iconic Kevin Aviance and British import James Hurr spinning House, Funk, Techno, Tech House, & Circuit.

ChiPride Volunteering + Friends of the Forest Preserves – LaBagh Woods
2026-05-24 09:00 - 12:00 | IL
Join LGBTQ+ and Ally Volunteers as we partner with Friends of the Forest Preserves on Chicago’s Northwest Side! Volunteers will perform a variety of tasks that will include removing invasive species, seed collecting, and potentially helping to care for some native plant areas.
What to Wear:
Volunteers should wear weather appropriate attire suitable for working in a forest setting. We suggest these additional items:
Insect repellant
Sunscreen
Hat and/or sunglasses
Water and snacks to stay hydrated and energized
Friends of the Forest Preserves will provide all work items on site (gloves, trowels, clippers, etc.)

Global Kink and Leather Closing Party
2026-05-24 21:00 - 2026-05-25 04:00 | House of Blues Chicago, 329 N Dearborn St., Chicago, IL, 60654, United States
Join us as we finish the inaugural Global Kink and Leather Weekend with our Closing Party at the House of Blues Chicago on Sunday, May 24. You will find circuit legends Alex Acosta and Dani Toro spinning up in the Foundation Room while Chicago’s rising stars DOGGPOUND get your toes tapping on the Backporch (ground floor venue). And the great thing is you will have access to both dance floors throughout the entire night so you can change the vibe whenever you want!

City in a Garden: Queer Art and Activism in Chicago
2026-05-31 | Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, United States
City in a Garden: Queer Art and Activism in Chicago is an intergenerational group exhibition that highlights Chicago’s essential, yet often underacknowledged, role in the story of queer art and activism. The exhibition examines this history from the mid-1980s, when activists radically mobilized in response to the US government’s disastrous handling of the AIDS crisis. In this moment of change, activists reclaimed the historically pejorative epithet “queer” as a liberatory term, encompassing all who purposefully deviate from heteronormative society. Drawn from the MCA’s collection and other local collections, City in a Garden follows this paradigm shift in LGBTQ+ history by bringing together work from over 30 artists and collectives working in Chicago from the 1980s to the present.
These artists address queerness through diverse media and methods: documenting clandestine queer spaces in photographs, creating sculptures that challenge normative depictions of gender and sexuality, and exploring queer intimacy through drawings, paintings, and videos. City in a Garden also features archival materials related to groups who innovatively combine artistic practices with their activism. The exhibition takes its title from Chicago’s official motto, Urbs in Horto, which translates to “city in a garden.” In the context of this presentation, this motto speaks to the exhibited artists’ and activists’ utopian visions of a metropolitan sanctuary for people of all races, genders, and sexualities. As queer people continue to fight for their lives and livelihoods under ongoing and renewed political threats, these visions remain as urgent today as ever.
Runs July 5, 2025 – May 31, 2026

North American Trans Rugby Match
2026-06-06 | TBA Chicago
The Chicago Dragons RFC will host the North American Trans Rugby Match on June 6, 2026, bringing together transgender and gender-diverse players from across the continent for a Pride Month exhibition in Chicago. Open to athletes of all backgrounds, the event celebrates inclusion, community, and the visibility of trans players in rugby. Registration opens soon!

Buffalo Grove's Family Friendly Pride Parade
2026-06-07 11:00 - 14:00 | Mike Rylko Community Park, 1000 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove, IL, 60089, United States
The 2026 Buffalo Grove Pride Fest is scheduled for Sunday, June 7, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring the theme “Shine with Pride: Illuminating Resilience.”

The event is organized in collaboration with the Pinta Pride Project and the Buffalo Grove Park District.

Spring Fling
2026-06-07 11:00 - 16:00 | Iron Lab
Spring Fling is an annual celebration and fundraiser hosted by the Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus that uplifts the Black LGBTQ+ community through connection, empowerment and joy supporting health equity initiatives and honoring leaders through the Black Gay Hall of Fame.

ChiPride Volunteering + Shedd Aquarium Pride Night
2026-06-13 18:00 - 22:30 | IL
Come visit ChiPride Volunteering at the Shedd Aquarium’s Pride Night! Our leadership team will have a table set up for guest to learn more about ChiPride Volunteering, what we do and how to get involved! If you would like, you can help up work the table and tell guests about our organization! Otherwise – simply enjoy the beautiful aquarium and celebrate Pride!
This is not the registration site for the Shedd Aquarium event – this is to volunteer with ChiPride Volunteering.
Everyone has to buy a ticket for the event ahead of time including volunteers.
Purchase a ticket at: https://www.sheddaquarium.org/shedd-pride-night

Aurora Pride Parade
2026-06-14 12:00 - 15:00 | Downtown Aurora, Aurora, IL, United States
The 2026 Aurora Pride Parade.

Chicago Pride Fest
2026-06-20 11:00 - 22:00 | Northalsted neighborhood
Chicago Pride Fest® is an annual two-day street festival. The next Chicago Pride Fest is on June 20-21, 2026, held the weekend before the Chicago Pride Parade (Sunday, June 28, 2026). The 25th annual Chicago Pride Fest is a celebration of LGBTQ+ life, culture and community in Chicago’s landmark LGBTQ+ Northalsted neighborhood.
Chicago Pride Fest features live music on 3 stages, a Youth Pride Space for teens, best of Chicago drag performances, the Proud Pet Parade (Sunday, 12pm) dance exhibitions, the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus, guest speakers and over 150 food and merchandise vendors.
A $20 suggested donation for entry helps pays performers and festival workers, and supports local non-profits & Northalsted community improvement programs including vibrant murals, art, and upkeep for the 14 Chicago Pride Crosswalks on Halsted Street, making it the longest permanent LGBTQ+ pride installation of it’s kind in the world.

Teresa Trull and Barbara Higbie: Reunion, Pride & CD Release.
2026-06-24 18:00 - 2029-06-24 22:00 | Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, IL, United States
Two national legends of women’s music return to Chicago for a rare concert. Teresa Trull & Barbara Higbie have been entertaining with their passionate and spirited music for many decades. They will celebrate Reunion, Pride & their new CD release in time for Pride Week in Chicago. They will be joined by opening act, Chicago’s own musical legend, Jeannie Tanner.
All at the beautiful and intimate Gateway Lounge at Copernicus Center on Chicago’s Northwest Side. The venue is wheelchair accessible. There will be sign language interpreters. Tickets $35 for early bird, $40 after May 1. A limited number of higher-priced tickets available to include a post-show dinner with the artists. Tickets at Goldenrod Records https: tinyurl.com/HigbieTrull. All proceeds benefit Trull’s family medical expenses.

Proud to Run Chicago's 2026 Pride Race
2026-06-27 08:00 - 12:00 | Montrose Beach, 601 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL, 60613, United States
History of the Race

The first Proud to Run race was organized by Peg Gray of the Gay Athletic Association, along with Rob Williams and Jim White. On June 20, 1982, 40 runners and walkers gathered at Foster Avenue Beach and set off on a 10K run and a 1-mile walk that would evolve into an annual Pride Week event that welcomes thousands of participants and supporters, and has raised almost $700,000 for organizations that support the Chicagoland LGBTQ community.

Chicago Pride Book Fest
2026-06-27 12:00 - 17:00 | Soundgrowler Brewing Co., 8201 183rd St., Suite P, Tinley Park, IL, 60487, United States
Slay the Lake presents Chicago Pride Book Fest, an all ages event featuring 30+ Queer authors and vendors at Soundgrowler Brewing Co. in Tinley Park on Saturday, June 27, 2026 12PM-5PM. This is a multi-genre indoor/outdoor event. Celebrate pride and get your books signed by LGBTQIA+ authors while enjoying great food and drinks. Everyone is welcome!
Follow @slaythelake and see ChicagoPrideBookFest.com for our list of attending authors.

Chicago Pride Parade 2026
2026-06-28 11:00 - 14:00 | Northalsted neighborhood
Get ready to celebrate love, equality, and community at the 2026 Chicago Pride Parade, one of the city’s most vibrant and iconic summer traditions! Taking place on Sunday, June 28, 2026, this legendary parade winds through the North Side neighborhoods of Uptown and Lakeview, bringing together hundreds of thousands of spectators, dazzling floats, marching bands, performers, and community organizations.
Now in its 55th year, the Chicago Pride Parade is the grand finale of Pride Month celebrations, showcasing the city’s unwavering spirit of inclusion and unity. Expect a joyful explosion of color, music, and pride as participants march in support of LGBTQ+ rights and visibility. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a long-time attendee, the Chicago Pride Parade promises an unforgettable day of celebration, connection, and pure Chicago energy.
Produced by PRIDEChicago.

BKA Weekend 2026
2026-07-09 - 2026-07-12 | Host Hotel Chicago
Black & Kinky Academy, a multi-day Black-led kink education conference held in the heart of Chicago. Designed by and for us, this gathering offers workshops, classes, panels, and social events that center BIPOC voices, bodies, and experiences in kink and BDSM. Whether you’re new to the scene or deeply embedded in your journey, this weekend is about skill-building, joy, reclamation, and connection. This space is welcoming to all BIPOC identifying people who are seeking community, education and pleasure.

Eliminating HIV Stigma Summit 2026
2026-07-21 | TBA Chicago
SAVE THE DATE 🗓️ AFC and Pride Action Tank are proud to host the Eliminating HIV Stigma Summit–a day centered on dismantling the stigma impacting our communities.
🗓️ Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2026
⏰ Time: 8:00 am-4:30 pm
📍 Place: Kabeer Hall/Loyola University Water Tower Campus
🎯 Theme: “Shifting the Narrative: Empowering Voices, Inspiring Hope, Transforming Lives”
✨What to Expect:
✔️Powerful information from our keynote speaker, breakout sessions, and panel discussions featuring people with lived experience
✔️ Access to local resources and support networks
✔️ Networking with the community
SAVE THE DATE 🗓️
More details coming soon!

Dignity Dash 5K benefiting Brave Space Alliance
2026-07-26 | AIDS Garden Chicago, 3003 N Lakefront Trail, Chicago, IL, United States
Brave Space Alliance’s Dignity Dash 5K fundraiser returns this year to make the statement that trans people have always been and will always be here; and we will not just survive, but thrive.
This is more than a race — it’s a movement.
Join us in “Thriving Through the Finish Line.”
The Dignity Dash is not just about running, it’s about being in community and showing up loud, proud, and exactly as we are. The Dash is about taking up space and refusing to allow our vibrant existence to be denied. This year, BSA’s Dignity Dash is raising funds to stock our Dignity Suite with identity-affirming resources of all kinds, including new binders and packers, wigs and hair packs, and gender-affirming surgery care packages.
We’re taking strides toward a future where trans people are supported beyond just being seen and building a world of Brave Spaces like ours.
We are committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you require an accommodation or service to fully participate, please contact: troyt@bravespacealliance.org

Chicago House Music Festival & Conference
2026-08-27 - 2026-08-30 | Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
The Chicago House Music Festival and Conference—the genre born in Chicago that has gone on to revolutionize dance music internationally.
Plan Your Visit to the Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park.
If you need accessibility services for the conference, such as ASL Interpretation, please contact dcase@cityofchicago.org
