Halsted Market Days — known locally as Market Days — is the premier summer street festival of Chicago's Boystown neighbourhood, held annually in August. The festival stretches along Halsted Street between Belmont and Addison, transforming the street into a two-day open-air event with multiple stages, food and drink vendors, merchandise stalls, and performances spanning pop, drag, dance, and live acts. Market Days draws approximately 75,000 to 80,000 people over its two-day run and is the second-largest LGBTQ+ event in Chicago after the Pride Parade. The festival has been running for over 30 years and is organised by the Northalsted Business Alliance. It is a distinctly community-oriented event: the bars along Halsted open their patios and run outdoor areas, the Center on Halsted is a hub of activity, and the atmosphere is the specific combination of summer heat, cold beer, and neighbourhood pride that makes it unlike any equivalent event in another American city. Market Days is the Chicago LGBTQ+ event for visitors who cannot make Pride weekend — a full celebration of Boystown's community in the height of summer.
Weekly drag show + DJ dance party at Hydrate Nightclub on Halsted. Drag performances at 9 PM, DJ dance floor until 5 AM.
Weekly Saturday dance night at Big Chicks, Uptown — inclusive queer bar, diverse crowd, art-covered walls, no cover.
Weekly Broadway and musical theatre video bar night at Sidetrack — a Boystown tradition since 1982.
Weekly Broadway and musical theatre video bar night at Sidetrack — a Boystown institution since 1982.
Free weekly line dancing and two-step night at Charlie's — country-western gay bar on Broadway, Boystown.
Weekly amateur drag competition at Roscoe's Tavern — Chicago's longest-running weekly drag show on Halsted Street.
Weekly LGBTQ+ karaoke night at Jackhammer — Lip Service with Tim Bell. Every Wednesday 9 PM, free entry.
Weekly K-Pop video night at Sidetrack — screens filled with K-Pop hits, enthusiastic crowd, no cover charge.
Weekly queer alternative party at Berlin — goth, new wave, industrial, post-punk and queer electronic.
Weekly queer alternative party at Berlin — goth, new wave, industrial and queer electronic. Open until 5 AM.
Weekly drag show + DJ dance party at Hydrate Nightclub on Halsted. Drag performances at 9 PM, DJ dance floor until 5 AM.
Weekly Saturday dance night at Big Chicks, Uptown — inclusive queer bar, diverse crowd, art-covered walls, no cover.
Weekly Broadway and musical theatre video bar night at Sidetrack — a Boystown institution since 1982.
Free weekly line dancing and two-step night at Charlie's — country-western gay bar on Broadway, Boystown.
Weekly amateur drag competition at Roscoe's Tavern — Chicago's longest-running weekly drag show on Halsted Street.
Weekly LGBTQ+ karaoke night at Jackhammer — Lip Service with Tim Bell. Every Wednesday 9 PM, free entry.
Weekly K-Pop video night at Sidetrack — screens filled with K-Pop hits, enthusiastic crowd, no cover charge.
Monthly community gathering at the Center on Halsted.
Weekly queer alternative party at Berlin — goth, new wave, industrial and queer electronic. Open until 5 AM.
Weekly drag show + DJ dance party at Hydrate Nightclub on Halsted. Drag performances at 9 PM, DJ dance floor until 5 AM.
Weekly Saturday dance night at Big Chicks, Uptown — inclusive queer bar, diverse crowd, art-covered walls, no cover.
Weekly Broadway and musical theatre video bar night at Sidetrack — a Boystown institution since 1982.
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