The Milwaukee spring festival known as PrideFest—Wisconsin's largest celebration of LGBT culture and community—is June 9-11.
The event starts June 9 with The Community Gathering, a kick-off celebration for Pride weekend that will feature acclaimed comedienne Margaret Cho, who will also be part of the Gay Games festivities in July. The night's program will also spotlight Voices for a Fair Wisconsin, who are working to educate the community about the proposed state constitutional amendment to ban civil unions.
On June 10, six stages will showcase a musical lineup featuring everyone from the group Berlin ( 'Take My Breath Away' and 'No More Words' ) to Martha Wash ( 'It's Raining Men' ) and Jill Sobule ( 'I Kissed a Girl' ) . The group En Vogue ( 'Hold On' and 'Free Your Mind' ) , comedienne Michele Balan and the finals of the event's Pride Idol contest are on tap for the following day.
Educational and informational panels will be held throughout the weekend at the Stonewall Pavilion and will feature everything from health topics to a graduation ceremony for students from Milwaukee's Alliance School.
PrideFest will be held at Henry W. Maier Festival Park from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight on June 9; 11 a.m. to 12 midnight on June 10; and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on June 11. Tickets are $12 daily and $25 for a weekend pass.
Full details are at www.pridefest.com .