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For the second consecutive year, the legendary queer dance party Slo ‘Mo is
teaming up with the beloved South Loop children’s boutique Kido to co-host a day of Pride festivities alongside the Chicago House Music Festival at Millennium Park for The Queer Fam Pride Jam! On Sunday, June 2nd, from 10 am - 1 pm CST, people of all ages are invited to enjoy the park and celebrate Pride with an array of joyful activities. You can RSVP here!
Taking place at the iconic Millennium Park, The Queer Fam Pride Jam is a free, family-friendly celebration featuring entertainment, activities, and a local food & retail marketplace, fostering a safe space for a vibrant get-together of LGBTQ+ families, kids, and allies. From 10 am to 1 pm, the North Pavilion tent will come alive with all-age activities, including dance lessons, DJ sets, drag performances, artmaking, sing-a-long, and more. After 1 pm, the party seamlessly transitions into the House Music Festival.
Chicago's renowned house music scene is a perfect match with the vibrancy of queer culture, where music and celebration intertwine at the heart. The Pride Jam not only launches Chicago's Pride Month but also heralds the start of the iconic Chicago House Music Festival in Millennium Park, commemorating its 20th anniversary alongside the 40th anniversary of house music. The festivities will carry on until 9 p.m., ensuring a full day of memories.
“We are so excited to bring the Queer Fam Pride Jam to Millennium Park and to kick off Pride Month with the House Music Fest. House music is a family affair, and with the Pride Jam, we are honoring its queer roots with a safe and celebratory space for LGBTQ+ families, youth, and allies,” Festival co-organizer Kristen Kaza said.
A majority of the original festival’s vendors and artists will return for this year’s Pride Jam, including renowned house dance instructor Boogie McClarin and performances by some of Chicago’s most beloved drag performers. This year also brings an exciting addition: Jammin' with Jules, a singer celebrated for their appearances in the viral YouTube series by Ms. Rachel.
The festival will also include DJ sets from the legendary Slo ‘Mo dance party, featuring its signature sound of R&B, House & Disco. Attendees can also peruse the maker market featuring LGBTQ+ and BIPOC Chicago small businesses.
To fill a void in family-friendly LGBTQ+ events, Party Moms Kristen Kaza (she/her), the Co-Founder of Slo ‘Mo and a new mom of twins, and Keewa Nurullah (she/her), a fourth-generation entrepreneur descendent of Black Wall Street and mom behind the award-winning South Loop children’s shop Kido came together to create the inaugural Pride Jam. Kristen and Keewa share a passion for inclusive events celebrating diverse cultures, artists, and businesses. Together, they've created this all-embracing Pride festival. Last year, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson attended their first Pride Jam event, engaging with attendees and delivering a powerful ten-minute speech on inclusivity and advocacy. The event drew a crowd of 1,000, with attendees traveling from across state lines to participate.
The Pride Jam is not just for LGBTQ+ families; the organizers encourage the broader LGBTQ+ community and allies to attend. “This event is our means of cultivating a community where queer individuals and allies unite in solidarity with LGBTQ+ youth and families, reaffirming their inherent value and importance,” Keewa said. “The goal of our community is to nurture the next generation of leaders, and the Pride Jam serves as an ideal platform to illustrate to our youth the essence of leadership.”
Information about the Pride Jam will be updated on the Slo ‘Mo and Kido Instagram accounts @slomoparty and @kidochicago and at queerfampridejam.com . Entry is free and attendees are encouraged to RSVP.
Photos by Erik Michael Kommer and Ajah Lexi Productions