Departing from a tradition of holding its annual Pride Fest the same weekend as the Pride Parade, the Northalsted Business Alliance has announced a plan to push the fest to an earlier weekend.
Jen Gordon, a spokesperson for the Alliance, confirmed that Pride Fest organizers were aiming for June 22-23, a week ahead of the annual Pride Parade, scheduled for June 30.
"Our preference is to change the date to the Saturday and Sunday before the parade," Gordon said. "It is not a done deal."
Gordon said organizers are still seeking approval from elected officials and community groups. But, she added, the committee is in the "final stages of approval."
In past years, Pride Fest heralded the start of pride festivities, setting up a jam-packed long weekend for out of town visitors. Pride Fest kicked off on the Friday before Pride and went through Saturday. Sunday was left open for the Pride Parade, organized by another group.
Gordon said the proposed change will stretch out pride activities over a full week.
"It's going to spread out what was always a really intense weekend," she said.
Lakeview Patch first broke the story of the proposed change. Some commented on that article that the proposed change was a ploy to raise profits for area bar owners.
But Gordon said that some community members reported that the Friday afternoon start of the fest made it difficult for people still returning home from work. She also said the move would ease congestion during a busy weekend in Lakeview.
"This is something that will be better for the community at large as well," she said.
Gordon said that the Alliance intends to announce a final decision as soon as possible.