55th Chicago Pride Parade: Free to Be Proud &
Rainbow SIG Luncheon
Sunday, June 28th

  • WHAT: 2026 Chicago Area Mensa Rainbow Pride Parade and Luncheon afterward.
  • WHO: You, your family, and any friends who might want to join you.
  • WHEN: Sunday, June 28th.
  • TIME: Line up begins around 10 AM and continues until 11 AM, but feel free to arrive earlier if it’s more convenient or you like socializing. Please stay on the sidewalk. We will make a concerted effort to make sure new participants meet other new participants and the rest of the group. The group photo will be taken at ~10:45 AM.

    Add Rainbow SIG & Allies @ Pride Parade

  • At this time, all participants should have received an email from Jim C. with all the details about the staging location and more.

    WHERE: Our float (#34) will be located on N. Clarendon, north of the W. Sheridan Rd. and N. Broadway intersection, just north of the point where Broadway angles off to the west and Clarendon starts (only about a 4 block walk SE from the CTA Red Line Sheridan station). If you're coming from the Red Line, go south on N. Sheridan to W. Dakin, east on Dakin to Broadway, south on Broadway to Clarendon, and then slightly north on Clarendon. If you're coming from the south on N. Broadway, continue straight on N. Clarendon when Broadway angles off to the west and the float should be right there. Portable toilets will be available only in the staging area. The Parade Route will snake south through the north side of Chicago on Broadway and then Halsted to Belmont, then Broadway again and end at Diversey and Sheridan (see map below).
  • WHY: To show our solidarity with members of the LGBTQ++ community, their friends, families, and Allies. Expect between 800,000 and a 1 million spectators along the route to be cheering us on, depending on the weather.
  • HOW: Because parking nearby will be almost non-existent, it’s recommended that you share a ride, use public transportation (CTA Red Line Sheridan station is the closest), or park further away near public transportation and use it. You can also use one of the ridesharing services but they will not be able to drop you off near Broadway—expect to walk a few blocks from wherever they can drop you off.
  • T-SHIRTS: If you don’t have a shirt from a prior year or you’d like a new one, we have ordered extras. These moisture-wicking shirts can be ordered in advance by contacting the parade coordinator or purchased on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the parade if you haven't ordered or paid in advance. The cost is $15 for either the women’s or unisex style. You do not have to participate in the parade to purchase one.
  • NAME CARDS: Every participant will be required to wear a name card. These cards will be given out on the day of the parade at the staging area for our contingent.
  • WEAR/BRING: Wear your CAM t-shirt (see above) or other shirt in a bright color of the Rainbow Flag. Wear comfortable walking shoes that you’ve already broken in (you don’t want to have blisters for a week afterwards)! Wear a cross-body-strap bag containing two bottles of frozen water, sunscreen with a high SPF, $15 cash for a t-shirt if you’re purchasing one on-site, additional cash or a credit card if you’d like to enjoy one of the many cocktails available at the optional luncheon, and any personal items you might need (tissues, hat, umbrella, smart phone, camera, snack, chewing gum, etc.). There are vendors in the area that sell colorful parade-related merchandise and most only accept cash.
  • AFTERWARDS: And like previous years, we will gather for an optional, late luncheon after the Parade and continue to share the warm feelings before heading home. The luncheon will start between 12:30 and 1 PM. The lunch will take place at the Basil Leaf Café. The restaurant is located at 2465 N. Clark St. in Chicago. Thanks to subsidies from the GOBS Trust and the Rainbow SIG, the cost of the buffet is $40 per person. The buffet-style menu will include salad, appetizers, and a choice of three entrées: Linguini Meatballs, Fettucini Alfredo with Broccoli, and Vegetables in Marinara. Payment instructions shall be forthcoming. You may attend the luncheon even if you don't participate in the Parade, but RSVPs are required.

    Add Rainbow SIG & Allies Luncheon @ Basil Leaf Café

  • RSVPs (Required): The deadline to sign up for the Parade was Thursday, May 28th. The deadline to sign up for the Luncheon was Saturday, June 20th.
    1. If you need to cancel, especially if you signed up to ride on the float, please email parade@chicago.us.mensa.org  at your earliest opportunity.
    2. Advanced payment for luncheon is requested and fully refundable if you cancel by Saturday, June 20th. Refunds will not be possible for last minute cancellations. Alcohol served and billed individually and separately (please include tip and tax when you pay your bill to the waitstaff).

If you need more information, see the article in the June ChiMe or May ChiMe or email parade@chicago.us.mensa.org . For more information about our Rainbow Special Interest Group (SIG), visit their website.

Below a few fellow Ms shared what they experienced or why they marched:

The Pride Parade is such an amaz­ingly *joyous* occasion that I can’t help smiling all the way through it, and I have worn out legs, arms and face walk­ing, wav­ing, high-fiving and grinning.

M.J.T.

In years past, I’ve walked the parade route. The energy from the on­lookers was incredible. After­wards, my feet didn’t hurt—my face hurt. I just couldn’t stop smil­ing. Try smiling for a few hours straight and see what your face feels like. Better yet, join us and you can do your smiling at the parade. It’s truly a wonderful experience.

Jon G.

I participate to show support and solidarity with my many LGBTQ+ friends and family members, and because, as our shirts say, “Diversity is smart.”

Stacey K.

As a straight, cis, white, privileged weirdo dude, if anyone should be suspect at a Pride Parade, it’s me. This is the reason that I’m an Ally: there is no more profoundly spiritual experience that the human animal can experience than to be part of a group in which every person is telling every other person, as clearly and loudly and intensely as pos­si­ble, “We wel­come you to be here with us and to be a part of us, without con­di­tion.” This exper­i­ence was human­i­ty at its best.

Joel K.

I participated to show my support. What I exper­i­enced, however, was amazing. There was so much joy and love from the crowd, it inspired me to hope that perhaps someday it just might be pos­sible for people to live in a world where it won’t matter what your gender, race, age, or sexual pref­er­ence is. It was so inclusive, uplifting, and joyful—unlike anything I’ve ever had the pleasure to experience.

Barb P.

Marching in the parade allows you the freedom to be yourself without fear of judgment. And the feelings of love, joy, and acceptance radiating from audience are indescribable. If you have been on the fence about joining us in the parade, maybe this is your year!

Naomi H.

View 2025 Rainbow SIG float just after 3 sec in.

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