In anticipation of the upcoming Pride parade on June 28, Boystown was turned upside down on June 20-21 for Pride Fest, which marked 13 years in 2015. The two-day festival, which the Northalsted Business Alliance sponsors, stretches from Addison Street to Grace Avenue on Halsted Street.
Multiple stages had singers, DJs and bands performing. Among them were artists such as Estelle, Crystal Waters and Big Freedia. Local acts were included, with Cat Fight, Wedding Banned and 16 Candles. Girl group The Veronicas cancelled at the last minute because of visa issues and were replaced by DJ Micky Friedmann on the night of June 20, although the rain forced early closure of the festival around 8 p.m.
There were 60 vendor booths lining the pavement, including the Illinois Lottery and Barefoot Wine.
On June 21, there was a fun pet parade sponsored by PetCo and hosted by local personality Miss Foozie. The weather on the second day made for a smoother experience for festivalgoers.
For information on more events in the Halsted area, visit www.northalsted.com .
Text and photos by Jerry Nunn.