Back Lot Bash This outdoor women’s festival kicks off indoors on Thursday at Mayne Stage (1328 W. Morse) with a night of comedy from Julie Goldman, Sandra Valls, and others. Friday features performances by Melissa Ferrick and Edie Carey, Dot Dot Dot headlines Saturday, and Uh Huh Her wraps up the weekend with a DJ set on Sunday. 6/28-6/30: Fri 5 PM, Sat-Sun 3 PM, 5238 N. Clark, $10-$20 per day, $30 weekend pass.
Burst! A Post Pride Parade Oasis Jane Beachy and Scott Cramer wrap up the hysteria of the Pride Parade with more craziness. DJ sets by Teen Witch Fan Club and Baathaus in between performances on the hour by Banjee Report, Precious Jewel, and others. Sun 6/30, 3 PM, Berlin, 954 W. Belmont, 773-348-4975, berlinchicago.com, $10.
Chicago Dyke March Part of the Pride weekend festivities, this march bills itself as a “grassroots mobilization and celebration of dyke, queer, bisexual, and transgender resilience.” Participants will gather at Margate Park starting at 2 PM; the march begins at 3 and ends with a rally in the park from 4:30 to 6 PM. Sat 6/29, 2 PM, Margate Park, 4921 N. Marine, chicagodykemarch.wordpress.com.
Chicago Reader Pride Cruise: Slo ‘Mo H2O Hosted by the masterminds behind the monthly dance party Slo ‘Mo, this year’s Pride cruise aboard the Tall Ship Windy features musical acts Shea Coulee and Xenia Rubinos and deep vinyl cuts from DJ Tess, bringing the slow jams off the land and into the water. Sahara Kabob, Goose Island, and City Winery cater. Fri 6/28, 7-10:30 PM, Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand, 312-595-7437, navypier.com, sold out.
Chicago’s 44th Annual Pride Parade The most colorful day in Chicago will feature hundreds of floats, performance groups, marching bands, motorcylists, and proud individuals marching through Uptown and Lakeview. The grand marshal is former NFL player Wade Davis. The parade begins at noon at Montrose and Broadway, proceeds south on Broadway and then Halsted to Belmont, east to Broadway, south to Diversey, and east to Cannon Drive. Sun 6/30, noon, chicagopride.gopride.com.
Melissa Etheridge Timing is everything, and the folk-rock singer-songwriter and outspoken gay rights activist picked a pretty good weekend to visit Highland Park. Joan Osborne and Paula Cole open. Sat 6/29, 6:30 PM, Ravinia Festival, Green Bay and Lake Cook, Highland Park, 847-266-5100, ravinia.org, $38-$100.
Frat Night Thursday at Scarlet: Pride Edition Frat night will get in the spirit of Pride week with louder bass, “hottie hi-jinks,” and drink specials including a “40-dawg special,” whatever that is. Thu 6/27, 9 PM, Scarlet, 3320 N. Halsted, 773-348-1053, scarletbarchicago.com.
Jawbreaker! Gay Pride Saturday Celebration The sugar-themed dance party features a sure-to-be-raucous DJ set by Billy Lace and plenty of candy flying all over the place. Enough to get your blood sugar to a dangerously high level, at least. Sat 6/29, 10 PM, House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn, 312-923-2000, houseofblues.com/chicago, $40, $30 in advance.
Music With Pride: A Tribute to Gay Composers A lineup of young musicians pays tribute to LGBT composers with a concert of classical and contemporary music from the likes of Bernstein, Copland, and Barber. Donations benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and the Team to End AIDS endurance training program. Thu 6/27, 7 PM, Lake View Presbyterian Church, 716 W. Addison, 773-281-2655, lakeviewpresbyterian.org, $10 suggested donation.
The Pride This well-timed production from About Face Theatre juxtaposes the relationship between two pairs of gay men, one living in 1958 London, the other in 2008. Reader contributor Bill Williams describes it as “part romance, part history lesson, and part rumination on how identity is affected by changing social circumstances—with just a hint of Greek pagan mysticism thrown in for good measure.” Thu 7/4, 7:30 PM, Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln, 773-871-3000, victorygardens.org, $30.
Pride and Joy Kickoff The best spot for drinking and dancing? On a rooftop, of course. Center on Halsted celebrates Pride weekend with an event hosted by Cyon Flare, featuring entertainment from Mimi Marks and DJ Marc “Moose” Moder. Fri 6/28, 5:30-9:30 PM, Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, 773-472-6469, centeronhalsted.org, $20 (includes four drink tickets).
Proud to Run In its 32nd year, the event features a 5K and 10K run, and for those who went out the night before, there’s a two-mile fun walk. Sat 6/29, 8 AM, Montrose and Simonds, proudtorun.org.
30 Queer Plays in 60 Straight Minutes In honor of Pride weekend, the Neo-Futurists present a special edition of Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, featuring some of the company’s most “queertastic, gender-bending” plays from the past year. Proceeds benefit UCAN’s LGBT Host Home program, which links homeless LGBT people with housing and support. 6/28-6/30: Fri 11:30 PM, Sat 8 and 11:30 PM, Sun 7 PM, Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland, 773-275-5255, neofuturists.org, $20. v