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Pride Fest expands to second day: Friday, June 26 and Saturday June 27

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Chicago, IL — Chicago Pride Fest, an LGBT community celebration held annually the day before Chicago's iconic Pride Parade, has expanded to become a two-day celebration. 

Now in it's 6th year, Pride Fest showcases an eclectic lineup of arts and crafts, food and other vendors. The annual celebration also features entertainment on two stages including one dedicated to some of Chicago's fine performers in the gay community. 

"This opportunity to start celebrating at 3 p.m. on Friday allows us to bring more great talent, bands and performers, as well as more vendors who might not be willing to participate in a one-day festival," Drew Knecht, president of Northalsted Area Merchants Association, tells ChicagoPride.com. 

"We decided it was time to raise the bar on our event to keep Chicago at the forefront and make our Pride Fest the best of its kind anywhere."

The Northalsted Area Merchants Association (NAMA) which hosts the annual Chicago Pride Fest announced the expansion with this year's celebration to be held on Friday, June 26 and Saturday June 27 at the intersections of North Halsted and Waveland.  This year's event will expand further south on Halsted with added booths and beer tents. 

The festival allows people to enjoy great musical talent with a suggested gate donation of $7 to benefit NAMA. Hours are 3:00-10:00 p.m. on Friday; 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. on Saturday.

"We expect to see Pride Fest continue to grow each year and become a major element of celebrating great pride not only in Chicago, but bringing people in from the neighboring Midwestern states," said Knecht. 

Chicago Pride Fest, as well as the following day's Pride Parade which draws more than 450,000 spectators, cap off a month of GLBT activities and events during Pride Month, which is celebrated each June.

The annual Chicago Pride Parade is Sunday, June 28, 2009 stepping off at Noon from Halsted and Belmont in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. 

NAMA also sponsors Northalsted Market Days, the Midwest's largest annual two-day outdoor street festival that draws more than 150,000 Chicagoans and GLBT visitors from around the globe. This year's Market Days—now celebrating its 28th year—will be held on Saturday and Sunday, August 1-2.

About the Northalsted Area Merchants Association:

A major force in the business community, NAMA represents 80 businesses along the Halsted Street corridor from Barry Street to West Sheridan Road. NAMA has achieved leadership status with the City of Chicago, the Lakeview business and residential community, and the media.

NAMA works diligently throughout the year to maintain the North Halsted business community as a friendly, exciting and diverse shopping and entertainment area. 

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