Chicago Pride Fest’s 2015 lineup is out and it features popular performers including Big Freedia, Estelle, and Debbie Gibson.
This year’s lineup highlights what festival organizers call a more “eclectic music mix.” Last year, Jennifer Hudson was among the big names on the lineup.
The Boystown festival, scheduled to take place June 20-21, is in its 13th year. It serves as a precursor to the city’s annual Pride Parade, slated to take place June 28.
Also among this year’s performers are the Pussycat Dolls’ Jessica Sutta, Cazwell and The Veronicas and local favorites Cat Fight and 16 Candles.
The lineup announcement comes as festival organizers debuted a new “catchphrase” for the event—“Keep Pride Proud.”
It also follows news that, despite its growing popularity, the Pride Parade will not move downtown this year. It may move in the future if paradegoers grow too rowdy.
"We ask for your support in keeping the parade safe by celebrating both responsibly and respectfully. If we do not see significant improvement this year, it may be the last year that the parade is in our community," Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) said in a statement.
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Last year, more than 1 million people celebrated at the city's Pride Parade, the first since marriage equality took effect in Illinois.
