Dyke March Is Moving To Little Village For Pride This Year

By Rachel Cromidas in Arts & Entertainment on May 24, 2017 3:50PM

At Dyke March 2016, photo by Tyler LaRiviere/Chicagoist

After three years based in Humboldt Park, Dyke March, Chicago's annual pride celebration with a rotating location, is moving to Little Village, a.k.a. la Villita.

Dyke March, for those unfamiliar, is heralded by many as the more inclusive, more social justice-oriented, less alcohol-fueled, and less corporate little sister to Chicago's massive annual Boystown Pride Parade. The annual gathering, which features a short parade followed by a party in the park, feels more like a neighborhood block party than a moving nightclub, and many (this writer included) believe its mission of radical inclusiveness and grassroots organizing is more in keeping with the spirit of Pride than, say, a Chipotle burrito-shaped Pride float.

Dyke March has celebrated pride in years past all over the city, including in Pilsen, South Shore and Uptown. As much as we've loved the Humboldt Park event, we appreciate that Dyke March is ready to relocate, to make the event more accessible to people in other parts of the city and to draw visitors out to another park. (Organizers from Dyke March have not responded to Chicagoist's requests for comment on the move.)

For the 21st annual march, organizers will begin near Piotrowski Park at 4247 W. 31st St. on June 24 (exact time TBD) and lead a half-mile march before ending up in Piotrowski Park. The event is still looking for volunteers and donations from people who want to help make sure it runs smoothly, and there are more details on the Facebook event page.