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There Are Tons Of Awesome Pride Events This Weekend — Here's Our Favorites

By  Ariel Cheung and Lisa White | June 24, 2016 5:45pm 

 Thousands of parade attendees lined Halsted Street during the 46th annual Chicago Pride Parade in Boystown on Sunday, June 28, 2015.
Thousands of parade attendees lined Halsted Street during the 46th annual Chicago Pride Parade in Boystown on Sunday, June 28, 2015.
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DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung

BOYSTOWN — When it comes to partying during Pride Parade weekend, there is no shortage of rowdy events that are sure to keep you dancing and celebrating late into the night or early into the morning. 

From beach bashes to fun runs, art parties, DJs and everything in between, we've rounded up some events that are sure to be a highlight of Pride Parade weekend.

FRIDAY:

Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., will kick off Pride Parade weekend with a Show Your Pride roof party. Dueling DJs Billy Brown and Gemini Jones will perform along with Lady Bunny from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 and include two drinks and "nibbles" of food. There will also be a cash bar.

Smartbar, 3730 N. Clark St., will host two Queen! Pride shows at 10 p.m. Friday and Sunday. Hosted by Lucy Stoole, the dance party will feature music from Tony Humphries, Michael Serafini, Derrick Carter and Garrett David. Tickets Friday are $12 in advance, $14 at the door and $16 after midnight. On Sunday, it's $10 all night.

• Jeff-Award winning actor Rob Lindley will embrace life's ups and downs during No Pride: A Super Big Gay Happy Hour at Uptown Underground, 4713 N. Broadway. Lindley will share stories and music and encourages others celebrating Pride to "put down their phones and come Grind and Woof at people in person." There will also be a special appearance by Miss Chic Filet. Tickets are $15 or $20 at the door and the show will start at 8 p.m. on the Moonshine Mainstage. 

• Double your Pride while also repping your South Side love at Trqpiteca, Pride = Libertad in Pilsen. Resident DJs will spin alongside guest DJs visiting from out of town from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Junior's, 2058 W. Cermak Rd. A portion of the $5 cover at the door will go to benefit the Pulse Nightclub Victims Fund, which has raised over $6 million to date.

• Get geeky with "Star Whores: The Pride Awakens" at the Playground Theatre, 3209 N. Halsted St. The sketch comedy show from GayCo Productions is just $15 and will be at 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

• The Neo-Futurists feature a special Pride edition of their popular show, 'Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind,' this weekend with "30 Queer Plays in 60 Straight Minutes." Advance tickets are sold out, but there will be cash only tickets available before each performance at the door for those who can snag them. The performances start at 7:30 p.m. at The Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave., with shows Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

SATURDAY:

• The annual Proud To Run 10K and 5K run/walk will take place along the lakefront for the 34th year Saturday.

The 10K run starts at 8:04 a.m. at Montrose Avenue and Simonds Drive, just north of Montrose Harbor. The 5K run/walk follows at 8:20 a.m. Saturday registration begins at 6:30 a.m. on site.

• Catch some rays and get your tan ready for Sunday during the TransMale Beach Party from 10 a.m. to sundown at Hollywood Beach in Edgewater. Look for the trans pride flag and bring your own food and drinks.

Navy Pier is launching its own Pride celebration. From noon to 10:30 p.m., the free event will feature performances from About Face Theatre, "Milly's Orchid Show" and DJ Ralphi Rosario, along with a display of 15 Chicago-centric panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt.

At 5 p.m., "Her Story" star Angelica Ross will officiate what Navy Pier hopes will be Chicago's biggest wedding, which could involve dozens of couples. At 10:14 p.m., there will be a moment of silence honoring Orlando victims, followed by a Pride-themed fireworks show.

• Get marching a day early in the 20th annual Chicago Dyke March in Humboldt Park. March starts at 2 p.m. at Western and Division and will culminate in a rally around 3 p.m. near California and Division.

• Adjoining Smartbar, Metro Chicago will host Neverland's "Lost Boys" party, hosted by Imp Queen, on Saturday. DJ sets by Ivan Gomez and DJ Alexis-R start at 11 p.m. Promising a "surreal night of character-drive fantasy," tickets are $51 in advance and $60 at the door.

SUNDAY:

Pride at Montrose starts at 10 a.m. Sunday at Montrose Harbor, with DJ sets and performances by Derrick Carter, GUCCIROXX and Kayee Ortiz. The party, powered by some major players in the Chicago LGBTQ scene, will also have a health village with items from the Chicago Department of Public Health and the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center.

• The annual Pride North festival takes over the Glenwood Arts District all weekend, but the main event spans from noon to 2 a.m. Sunday. Nearly 10,000 people are expected to attend and enjoy live music, three dance floors and neighborhood vendors.

• Awaken all your senses celebrating at IT Presents: Juice at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave. from 2-10 p.m. The three room soiree will include a slew of DJs, live performances by acts like Yoko and the Oh No's, Lucy Stoole and Jeez Loueez as well as fashion, installation and visual art and go-go dancers. Tickets are $10 and the venue is just a quick walk from Boystown so you can keep those creative juices flowing post-parade. 

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