Hello. Hi. Hey! Amélia here! How have you been, reader? I hope well! I have been having a blast around Chicago, as the sun starts shining more often, the days get warmer, and Chicago begins to embrace spring! The biggest sign that Chicago is almost completely defrosted is that more and more sickening festivals, shows, and parties are coming right at us. So grab your dinner, glass of wine, or whatever you need to read this newsletter, because I am about to tell you all about it!

If you are a GayDo312 newsletter reader and would like to attend an event of mine, you can catch me tomorrow at Jackhammer for NXT 2 NTHN with special guests, DJ Harry Cross and Dragula’s Fantasia Gaga Royale. You can purchase tickets or enter our giveaway for two free tickets!

JUST ANNOUNCED

• “Step into a dream, where glamour is extreme!” Kinky Boots is coming to Broadway Chicago this June, and you’ll want to be there! So, zip up your red glitter pleaser boots and enter our giveaway for a chance to win 2 free tickets!*

• Chicago icon, Mamadou, is home on April 25th, and her hit party Mama’s House is back at Smoke and Mirrors to give us everything we could possibly want. Party with icons from near and far and get your tickets now!

• Your city. Your venues. Your festival. CIVL Fest is here! A city wide festival celebrating Chicago’s independent venues. Get ready for 10 days of shows and community focused programming! Buy tickets to select shows or enter our select giveaways!*

• MEOW! RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18’s top 4 are bringing the Kitty Kat Ball to Chicago on May 30th! Join the Top 4 and Chicago’s own Lucy Stoole and Helvetikah Blak at Metro for an unforgettable night of drag! Tix on sale now.

• The Checkout presents Luminous Duo Plays Queer Composers! On May 23rd don’t miss the amazing cellist and pianist duo play a rousing concert of queer composers! Don’t miss this musical sensation and get tix now!

CHICAGO FESTIVAL GUIDE 2026

This year Chicago is back at it once again with festivals galore! Festivals are popping up every single day seemingly in this city, and it is truly for the best! Everything deserves a little bit (or even a lot) of celebration, and that is what Chicago does best. . . Celebrates! So, gear up for this list, because it’s long, and there are still festivals to be announced, tickets to be bought, and good times to be had!

• SAT 04.18 - SUN 04.19 - ILLINI VINTAGE FEST 

• SAT 05.23 - SUN 05.24 - FOREVER MINE FEST

• FRI 06.12 - SUN 06.14 - MIDSOMMARFEST

• THU 07.30 - SUN 08.02 - LOLLAPALOOZA (WIN)

• FRI 09.04 - MON 09.07 - ARC MUSIC FESTIVAL 

• FRI 09.18 - SUN 9.20 - RIOT FEST

THIS WEEKEND

LOCALS ONLY

• Queen! is church for queer Chicago! This Sunday, The Warehouse is Reborn with special guest host, Jay Jay and up and coming party girl, Winter Diorr. You can snag tickets right here!

• The legendary doors of Berlin Nightclub are being reopened as The Belmont/The Decibel. Want to know more information? Read about it here.

• Mondays are rough, but Mondays somehow get better with Hydrate’s “Mondays Are Ruff!” Join resident cast and iconic drag host, Mz. Ruff N’ Stuff, every Monday for some world class and classic drag. More information here.

• Only two more weeks of Drag Race Watch Parties! So, make sure that you hit up your local bars and clubs and catch the last couple of weeks with a cocktail and the girls. You can find the perfect spot to watch right here!

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