Evanston Pride Won't Happen This Year, Here's Why

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston Pride is pausing programming this year after organizers announced a hiatus in May after six years of operations.

Evanston Pride Inc., a volunteer-run non-profit, typically celebrates Pride Month each year with a youth car parade, a community picnic and a remembrance ceremony. This year, co-founders Patty Finley and Rada Yovovich said the hiatus was needed because of the need for additional support.

"You may have noticed a drastic drop in activity from Evanston Pride in recent months. After 6 years of running this organization, only a small core group has been actively managing our initiatives. While we are proud of what we've accomplished together, we need a break," organizers said in a statement posted to their website.

The co-founders invited members of the community to reach out to help the organization grow and put on events in the future.

There are no city-sponsored Pride events planned, but there will be events in Evanston throughout the month, including:

• Interfaith Family Pridefest - At Raymond Park from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on June 14.
• Mental Health in the LGBTQIA+ Community - An online event hosted by the Evanston Public Library at 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on June 25.
• Drag Queen Bingo - At the Main Library on June 27 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.