Find intersectional, LGBTQ affirming and progressive events of all kinds in the The Real Mainstream Central Illinois Events Calendar. Events are color-coded:
May–June 2024
May 2 (1 event)
5:30 pm • Trans Up • Champaign–
May 2Support group for adults in Champaign County who identify as transgender. Provided by Zoom or in-person. FMI: Â transup@unitingpride.org
May 5 (1 event)
4:00 pm • Writers Open Mic • Online–
May 5Gather with Iowa City Poetry to share five minutes of your work with "an appreciative online audience."
OnlineMay 6 (1 event)
6:00 pm • Queries Pre-Teen Support Group • Champaign–
May 6Support for 10- to 13-year-olds who are questioning their sexuality or gender. Zoom and in-person; email queries@unitingpride.org FMI
May 7 (1 event)
7:00 pm • Lift Up • Champaign–
May 7For adults who identify as gay, lesbian, pan, bi, ace, poly, questioning, or any other sexual minority. Available by Zoom and in-person. FMI:Â liftup@unitingpride.org
May 9 (1 event)
5:30 pm • Trans Up • Champaign–
May 9Support group for adults in Champaign County who identify as transgender. Provided by Zoom or in-person. FMI: Â transup@unitingpride.org
May 13 (1 event)
6:00 pm • Queries Pre-Teen Support Group • Champaign–
May 13Support for 10- to 13-year-olds who are questioning their sexuality or gender. Zoom and in-person; email queries@unitingpride.org FMI
May 14 (2 events)
7:00 pm • Fetish, Erotic and Kink Figure Drawing • Chicago, Ill. and online–
May 14Studio drawing class featuring professional models, available in person or online. Classes are $10; pre-register here. With questions, email online@leatherarchives.org.
Online7:00 pm • Lift Up • Champaign–
May 14For adults who identify as gay, lesbian, pan, bi, ace, poly, questioning, or any other sexual minority. Available by Zoom and in-person. FMI:Â liftup@unitingpride.org
May 16 (1 event)
5:30 pm • Trans Up • Champaign–
May 16Support group for adults in Champaign County who identify as transgender. Provided by Zoom or in-person. FMI: Â transup@unitingpride.org
May 18 (1 event)
• Springfield PrideFest • SpringfieldMay 18
Drag, food, vendors and more at this annual event coordinated by the Phoenix Center LGBTQ nonprofit. Follow the Springfield PrideFest Facebook page for more information.
#lgbtqpride2024
Springfield - DowntownMay 20 (1 event)
6:00 pm • Queries Pre-Teen Support Group • Champaign–
May 20Support for 10- to 13-year-olds who are questioning their sexuality or gender. Zoom and in-person; email queries@unitingpride.org FMI
May 21 (1 event)
7:00 pm • Lift Up • Champaign–
May 21For adults who identify as gay, lesbian, pan, bi, ace, poly, questioning, or any other sexual minority. Available by Zoom and in-person. FMI:Â liftup@unitingpride.org
May 23 (1 event)
5:30 pm • Trans Up • Champaign–
May 23Support group for adults in Champaign County who identify as transgender. Provided by Zoom or in-person. FMI: Â transup@unitingpride.org
May 27 (1 event)
6:00 pm • Queries Pre-Teen Support Group • Champaign–
May 27Support for 10- to 13-year-olds who are questioning their sexuality or gender. Zoom and in-person; email queries@unitingpride.org FMI
May 28 (1 event)
7:00 pm • Lift Up • Champaign–
May 28For adults who identify as gay, lesbian, pan, bi, ace, poly, questioning, or any other sexual minority. Available by Zoom and in-person. FMI:Â liftup@unitingpride.org
May 30 (1 event)
5:30 pm • Trans Up • Champaign–
May 30Support group for adults in Champaign County who identify as transgender. Provided by Zoom or in-person. FMI: Â transup@unitingpride.org
June 1 (3 events)
9:00 am • Walk With Pride: A Tour of Springfield's LGBT+ History • Springfield–
June 1Learn all about the key LGBT+ sites in Springfield, including Ethel Mars, Smokey’s Den, The Prairie Flame, and PrideFest. "Come see Springfield through rainbow-colored glasses!" Register here.12:00 pm • Jacksonville Pride • Jacksonville IL–
June 1Events still to be announced for this special event, coordinated by Jacksonville Pride.
#lgbtqpride2024
5:00 pm • Social Justice Celebration & Fundraiser • Champaign–
June 1This special event to raise money for the McKinley Foundation features live jazz, hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, a silent auction and more. Tickets are $25-50; get yours here.June 2 (2 events)
12:00 pm • 2nd Annual Parking Lot Pride Party • Peoria–
June 2Peoria Proud leads the build-up to River City Pride Festival in July, with this afternoon of fun with Central Illinois Friends. You'll find mobile HIV and STI testing, ice cream and a cookout, jello shots, a hash run, vibrator races and more.4:00 pm • Writers Open Mic • Online–
June 2Gather with Iowa City Poetry to share five minutes of your work with "an appreciative online audience."
OnlineJune 3 (1 event)
6:00 pm • Queries Pre-Teen Support Group • Champaign–
June 3Support for 10- to 13-year-olds who are questioning their sexuality or gender. Zoom and in-person; email queries@unitingpride.org FMI
June 4 (2 events)
6:30 pm • Pride Night at the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes • Springfield IL–
June 4This annual tradition is a chance to enjoy Springfield's collegiate summer league baseball team, the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes. Watch CORAL's Facebook page for more info.
#lgbtqpride2024
7:00 pm • Lift Up • Champaign–
June 4For adults who identify as gay, lesbian, pan, bi, ace, poly, questioning, or any other sexual minority. Available by Zoom and in-person. FMI:Â liftup@unitingpride.org
June 5 (1 event)
5:30 pm • Walk With Pride: A Tour of Springfield's LGBT+ History • Springfield–
June 5Learn all about the key LGBT+ sites in Springfield, including Ethel Mars, Smokey’s Den, The Prairie Flame, and PrideFest. "Come see Springfield through rainbow-colored glasses!" Register here.June 6 (1 event)
5:30 pm • Trans Up • Champaign–
June 6Support group for adults in Champaign County who identify as transgender. Provided by Zoom or in-person. FMI: Â transup@unitingpride.org
June 8 (3 events)
9:00 am • Walk With Pride: A Tour of Springfield's LGBT+ History • Springfield–
June 8Learn all about the key LGBT+ sites in Springfield, including Ethel Mars, Smokey’s Den, The Prairie Flame, and PrideFest. "Come see Springfield through rainbow-colored glasses!" Register here.11:00 am • 2nd Annual Pride March • Peoria–
June 8Speak Out Illinois, a nonprofit community action agency focused on ending violence and abuse, and promoting equality, diversity and inclusivity, leads Peoria's 2nd Annual Pride March.
#lgbtqpride2024
3:00 pm • Logan County Pride Fest • Lincoln–
June 8This event is a collaboration between Logan County Pride, and the city of Lincoln. More details to come.
#lgbtqpride2024
June 10 (1 event)
6:00 pm • Queries Pre-Teen Support Group • Champaign–
June 10Support for 10- to 13-year-olds who are questioning their sexuality or gender. Zoom and in-person; email queries@unitingpride.org FMI
June 11 (2 events)
7:00 pm • Fetish, Erotic and Kink Figure Drawing • Chicago, Ill. and online–
June 11Studio drawing class featuring professional models, available in person or online. Classes are $10; pre-register here. With questions, email online@leatherarchives.org.
Online7:00 pm • Lift Up • Champaign–
June 11For adults who identify as gay, lesbian, pan, bi, ace, poly, questioning, or any other sexual minority. Available by Zoom and in-person. FMI:Â liftup@unitingpride.org
June 12 (2 events)
5:30 pm • Walk With Pride: A Tour of Springfield's LGBT+ History • Springfield–
June 12Learn all about the key LGBT+ sites in Springfield, including Ethel Mars, Smokey’s Den, The Prairie Flame, and PrideFest. "Come see Springfield through rainbow-colored glasses!" Register here.6:00 pm • Juneteenth Talent Showcase • Springfield–
June 12This free night of talent features music, poetry, dance, and more from dope artists and entertainers. Coordinated by Springfield's Juneteenth, Inc.
#juneteenth2024
June 13 (2 events)
5:30 pm • Juneteenth Celebration: Levitt AMP Concert • Springfield–
June 13Enjoy a night of music, grab dinner from one of the featured food vendors, and partake of info from local organizations, at this Juneteenth event hosted by Juneteenth, Inc.
#juneteenth2024
Springfield - Downtown5:30 pm • Trans Up • Champaign–
June 13Support group for adults in Champaign County who identify as transgender. Provided by Zoom or in-person. FMI: Â transup@unitingpride.org
June 14 (1 event)
7:00 pm • Mr. and Miss Juneteenth Pageant • Springfield–
June 14This pageant encourages our youth to express their values and diverse backgrounds. Coordinated by Juneteenth, Inc.
#juneteenth2024
June 15 (2 events)
10:00 am • 30th Annual Juneteenth Celebration Unity Parade • Springfield–
June 15This 30th annual event starts at the intersection of MLK and South Grand, heads down Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Blvd, and ends at Comer Cox Park. To sign up your group or business, contact Shymeka Kerr-Gregory at Juneteenthinc@gmail.com, or find the parade application at juneteenthinc.org, by June 1st.#juneteenth2024Springfield - Downtown11:00 am • LGBTQIA Resource Fair • Peoria–
June 15Speak Out Illinois holds a Pride month resource fair. Come learn more about groups and businesses that provide free or low-income services and programs.
June 16 (1 event)
10:00 am • Juneteenth Outdoor Revival • Springfield–
June 16Enjoy food, games and prizes, live music, fitness in the park, and more at this annual Juneteenth celebration by Juneteenth Inc.
#juneteenth2024
June 17 (1 event)
6:00 pm • Queries Pre-Teen Support Group • Champaign–
June 17Support for 10- to 13-year-olds who are questioning their sexuality or gender. Zoom and in-person; email queries@unitingpride.org FMI
June 18 (1 event)
7:00 pm • Lift Up • Champaign–
June 18For adults who identify as gay, lesbian, pan, bi, ace, poly, questioning, or any other sexual minority. Available by Zoom and in-person. FMI:Â liftup@unitingpride.org
June 19 (3 events)
10:00 am • Future Leaders Juneteenth Breakfast • Springfield–
June 19Lift up future leaders at Juneteenth, Inc.'s 1st Annual Future Leaders Juneteenth Breakfast. Tickets re $25 apiece.#juneteenth2024Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum10:00 am • Juneteenth with the Henson Robinson Zoo • Springfield–
June 19This free day at the zoo is for all ages and offers a chance to celebrate Juneteenth by gathering as a community in a location that also enables connection to nature as a whole.#juneteenth202410:30 am • Juneteenth Celebration • Jacksonville–
June 19Join with the Jacksonville IL NAACP for this annual celebration of Juneteenth and emancipation, featuring games, music, a food truck, and a youth pageant.
#juneteenth2024
June 20 (1 event)
5:30 pm • Trans Up • Champaign–
June 20Support group for adults in Champaign County who identify as transgender. Provided by Zoom or in-person. FMI: Â transup@unitingpride.org
June 22 (1 event)
9:00 am • Walk With Pride: A Tour of Springfield's LGBT+ History • Springfield–
June 22Learn all about the key LGBT+ sites in Springfield, including Ethel Mars, Smokey’s Den, The Prairie Flame, and PrideFest. "Come see Springfield through rainbow-colored glasses!" Register here.June 24 (1 event)
6:00 pm • Queries Pre-Teen Support Group • Champaign–
June 24Support for 10- to 13-year-olds who are questioning their sexuality or gender. Zoom and in-person; email queries@unitingpride.org FMI
June 25 (1 event)
7:00 pm • Lift Up • Champaign–
June 25For adults who identify as gay, lesbian, pan, bi, ace, poly, questioning, or any other sexual minority. Available by Zoom and in-person. FMI:Â liftup@unitingpride.org
June 26 (1 event)
5:30 pm • Walk With Pride: A Tour of Springfield's LGBT+ History • Springfield–
June 26Learn all about the key LGBT+ sites in Springfield, including Ethel Mars, Smokey’s Den, The Prairie Flame, and PrideFest. "Come see Springfield through rainbow-colored glasses!" Register here.June 27 (1 event)
5:30 pm • Trans Up • Champaign–
June 27Support group for adults in Champaign County who identify as transgender. Provided by Zoom or in-person. FMI: Â transup@unitingpride.org
June 29 (2 events)
9:00 am • Walk With Pride: A Tour of Springfield's LGBT+ History • Springfield–
June 29Learn all about the key LGBT+ sites in Springfield, including Ethel Mars, Smokey’s Den, The Prairie Flame, and PrideFest. "Come see Springfield through rainbow-colored glasses!" Register here.9:00 am • Walk With Pride: A Tour of Springfield's LGBT+ History • Springfield–
June 29Learn all about the key LGBT+ sites in Springfield, including Ethel Mars, Smokey’s Den, The Prairie Flame, and PrideFest. "Come see Springfield through rainbow-colored glasses!" Register here.