EDGE Providence

The crowd at the Vic on Sheffield enjoyed top acts like the Scissor Sisters and its openly gay lead singer Jake Shear. Later, across the street at Berlin Nightclub, the band’s DJ, along with Jake, and Rapper Rye Rye, showed up.

The forty third annual Chicago Pride Parade attracted a record number of attendees who came out to enjoy all of the festivities. EDGE has the pics.

For two days Halsted Street enjoyed Pride Fest with a variety of booth vendors selling food, drinks, and novelties. Entertainment included pop singer Jojo, and Weather girl Martha Wash whose booming voice proclaimed that "It’s Raining Men" in Chitown.

From the much longer Pride parade down Halsted to the two-day Pride Fest to a bevy of assorted lectures, parties, plays and drag shows, the Windy City puts wind in its sails for Chicago Gay Pride.

Chicago Cardinal Francis George is defending his remarks comparing gays to the Klu Klux Klan because the city’s 2012 pride parade would pass a Catholic Church on a new route: "defending"; not apologizing.

From downtown high-rise buildings to neighborhood landmarks, a Chicago architecture group is offering free behind-the-scenes looks at dozens of locations citywide.

Back by popular demand and just in time for the holidays, Chicago Greeter will offer free, one-hour walks of N. Michigan Avenue and surrounding areas led by knowledgeable locals.

Chicago’s Pride Parade marched down the street with over 250 floats and organizations showing their true colors. There were a few bumps in the road when vandals broke in the night before to the garage where floats were being stored and slashed tires. For Sunday it was all rainbows and sunshine as the weather held out when rain was promised but never showed.

Chicago held their Pride Fest celebration on June 24 and 25. Blocking off Halsted Street from Waveland to Addison, two stages featured music artists such as Deborah Cox, Mya and Crystal Waters. The drag performers kept the long day jumping as hundreds shopped, drank and ate at the many booths along the way. Vendors such as Oscar Meyer and Barefoot Wines showed their support of the gay community by attending along with over 20 others.

The weather didn’t stop the fun Sunday. Neither the thunderstorms nor the blazing hot and humid sun could stop the fun from happening. The streets, windows and balconies were packed with spectators who braved the weather for the beads and other throws that were given out by the marchers.