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Saturday’s Waldo’s Forever Fest in Chicago is one of the biggest events to adjust this month to the coronavirus crisis by going online or rescheduling.

Waldo’s Forever Fest will actually be doing both, converting its planned street festival this Saturday to an online event featuring musical performers, drag performers, cooking, glass-blowing and neon bending. Use hashtag #420inplace.

“We believe cannabis brings people together, and that’s exactly what we’ll do,” organizers Dispensary33 said to Block Club Chicago.

The actual street festival has been rescheduled for Sept. 26 and will take place on a major thoroughfare for the first time ever. For its first two years, Waldo’s Forever Fest was held on a side street outside of founder Dispensary33.

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You can join the online event through Waldo’s Forever Fest website at https://do312.com/waldos420inplace.

Below is the second in a continuing occasional series on progressive events rescheduled or gone online because of the coronavirus crisis:

  • The African-American Museum of Iowa, located in Cedar Rapids, will remain closed through at least May 2. Watch the museum’s website for more information.
  • Capital City Pride has moved its celebration from the first week in June, to July 12 to 19. The celebration is slated to include a parade and street fair, among other activities.
  • Circa 21 Playhouse and Dinner Theater remains closed as long as Illinois has a “shelter-in-place” order. Watch Circa ‘21’s website for more information.
  • Decorah Pride has moved its May Pride celebration to Sept. 11-19. This will be the third year for this celebration.
  • The Englert Theatre has postponed all shows through at least mid-June. Watch its Facebook page and website for more information.
  • Though Iowa City’s FilmScene remains closed to theater showings indefinitely, it is providing virtual screenings, with proceeds to support FilmScene. The nonprofit also offers weekly viewing parties. For a schedule of both online offerings, to go FilmScene’s website.
  • The Lambda Softball Association of Eastern Iowa, based in Iowa City, has delayed the start of its spring season to at least June 12. Watch LSA’s website for more information.
  • One Iowa has converted its in-person trainings into virtual opportunities. You can still take the group’s “LGBTQ 101,” “Trans and Nonbinary 101,” and “LGBTQ 201” courses, each of which help contribute to a greater understanding of the LGBTQ community. You can schedule a virtual training by contacting Max at max@oneiowa.org. One Iowa’s annual Gala, originally scheduled for April 24, has been moved to Aug.22.
  • All sports activities for the Pride Sports League of Central Iowa are on hold, but registration is still encouraged for “when we get the green light to play again,” writes league president Tyler Pettit. Watch PSL’s website for updates.
  • Southern Il Pride Fest, originally scheduled for June 5 and 6, has been rescheduled to Oct. 17. The celebration includes a march and festival, and additional events are being planned for the month of October.
  • Springfield PrideFest, originally scheduled for May 16, has been cancelled. Organizers decided not to reschedule the event this year and encourage festival-goers to come back for the 2021 event, scheduled for May 15.

This is part of an ongoing occasional series spreading word about progressive events in Iowa and Illinois that have been rescheduled, cancelled, or converted to online. If you’d like to share information about your event, or an event you know if, please send information to The Real MainStream at reachus@therealmainstream.com.