Six Pride Month Events You Don't Want to Miss in Champaign County
Vibrance, a whole lotta sass, and a space to come as exactly who you are—Pride Month in Champaign-Urbana is a sight to behold, and rightfully so: Pride gatherings are rooted in the arduous history of minority groups who have struggled for decades to overcome prejudice and be accepted for who we are. In Champaign-Urbana, Pride is celebrated through drag shows, live music, dancing, face-painting, 5K’s, parades, drag storytime, kid’s activities, and so much more. We invite you to check out some of these queer-friendly events the greater Champaign County area this month.
TOAST TO TAYLOR STREET: PRIDE EDITION – JUNE 3RD, 4:00 - 10:00 P.M.
The first major Pride Month event opens up with a special rendition of Toast to Taylor Street, hosted by Uniting Pride. Stop by and shop at our local vendors and experience our amazing local talent—music from Dj Silkee, Emily the Band, and Lauren Rain and the Caesars, plus drag performances by Mr. Knightly, Ceduxion Carrington, and more.
LOVE FOR ALL-ERTON – JUNE 3, 12:00 - 3:00 P.M.
LOVE FOR ALLerton is an outdoor concert that fosters a welcoming and inclusive environment for all, featuring music from Bad Medicine and Lipstick Jodi. This event opens up the Allerton Park Concert Series with monthly concerts through Sept. 29. Food will also be available to purchase from Diggity Dawgs, Ice Daddy’s, La Paloma and Piato to Go!
POUND THE PAVEMENT FOR PRIDE 5K – JUNE 10, 8:00 A.M.
It’s time to lace those running shoes and dress in your brightest colors—The Tuscola GSA Booster Club is hosting their third annual Pound the Pavement event on Saturday, June 10th! Pound the Pavement is a 5k color run/walk open to the community, with awards going to the top 2 Finishers in each group, irrespective of gender, Ages 13-25, Ages 26-50, Ages 51+. At 7pm, stick around for some killer drag performances by our local talent!
LOVE WINS CRAFTING: DIY FOR PRIDE MONTH - 2:00 P.M. - 3:30 P.M.
Drop in at the Urbana Free Library and create something beautiful for Pride Month! So many fun people, so many fun projects for all ages! The library will have creative art supplies to get you started and special guests with projects to try. Bring your friends, family, and come celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community with the Urbana Free Library!
URBANA NEIGHBORHOOD NIGHTS CONCERT: PRIDE NIGHT - 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
United Pride is teaming up with the Urbana Park District for an evening of music and vibes with Mank & Sass! Grab a picnic blanket, some lawn chairs, and groove to a variety of musical genres like funk, blues, rock, pop, hip-hop, and more.
FILM SHOWING: MAMA BEARS (2022) AT THE VIRGINIA THEATRE - 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M
Mama Bears is a powerful film highlighting the advocacy of mothers who fight for their children's rights with ferocity and grit. Although they grew up as fundamentalist, evangelical Christians praying for the souls of LGTBQ+ people, these mothers are now willing to risk losing friends, family, and faith communities to champion their kids—even if it challenges their belief systems and rips apart their worlds. For tickets, click here.