Aurora Pride Parade 2018: Parking, Route, More

AURORA, IL — Aurora is going to see its very first gay pride parade this June. The Inaugural Pride Parade, hosted by Indivisible Aurora, is the first of its kind in the town and is sure to be a great time.

"This is unique in that it's the first of its kind in the western suburbs, and it's long overdue in a city of Aurora's size and diversity," organizer Gwyn Ciesla said, according to the Aurora Beacon-News. "Other communities have begun planning their own celebrations, such as Bolingbrook, and we couldn't be more pleased."

The June 17 parade starts at noon. They'll march off at South River Street and West Benton Street, crossing the Fox. They'll circle back on West Downer Place, ending at South River Street.

Ciesla said one major reason for the parade is so Aurora's LGBTQ community doesn't have to travel far to show their pride. "The broad motivation for this event is to show support for the LGBTQ membersof our community, but our particular focus is LGBTQ youth," Ciesla said, the Beacon-News reports. "While many have supportive families and schools, not all are so lucky."

Scott Mackay and Danielle Tufano of 95.9 the River are emceeing the event, and tons of local business are offering specials all day.

 

Parade Route:

  • Start at South River Street and West Benton Street
  • Go southeast on West Benton Street
  • Go northeast on South Broadway
  • Go northwest on West Downer Place
  • End at South River Street and West Downer Place

See the map below to for parade route, parking, restrooms and local stores, via Indivisible Aurora.

There will also be free HIV status checks provided by Open Door Health Center of Illinois, according to the parade website.

This free event is open to everybody, so whether you're gay, straight, trans, bisexual—it doesn't matter—you will be accepted and welcome.

Aurora Prepping For First Ever Pride Parade This Month

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Municipal officials and activist groups in Aurora are finalizing preparations for what will be the City’s first ever Pride Parade this month.

The Treadwell Coffee shop on Downer Place is one of several Aurora businesses and organizations that will be Pride stops during what organizers say will be a family friendly Pride Parade June 17th, organized to celebrate the LGBT community. 

That's where WBBM got Aurora Pride Parade co-chair Kimberly Adams to sit still long enough to say the family-friendly event on  Sunday June 17th will be wonderful, and yes it’s a lot of work.

Adams says it’s been a whirlwind of activites, working with participating groups and —yes, she says—preparing for people who may demonstrate against the event.

Aurora Police won’t discuss specific plans, but say they will make sure paticipants and attendees will have an enjoyable and safe experience.City spokesman Clayton Muhammad says officials are prepared, just as they are for the other big events that take place in downtown Aurora, like festivals, parades, music events and more. He says the city's entire Public safety team is involved.

'It's long overdue': Indivisible Aurora hosts the city's first Pride Parade on June 17

It’ll be a sea of rainbows when the inaugural Aurora Pride Parade steps off at 12 p.m. June 17 in downtown Aurora.

“This is unique in that it's the first of its kind in the western suburbs, and it's long overdue in a city of Aurora's size and diversity,” said organizer Gwyn Ciesla. “Other communities have begun planning their own celebrations, such as Bolingbrook, and we couldn't be more pleased.”

The City of Lights’ first pride parade was officially approved in March and is hosted by Indivisible Aurora.

“The genesis of the inaugural Aurora Pride Parade was in discussions around commemorating the first anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy,” said Ciesla, who is director of Indivisible Aurora’s LGBTQ and Alliance team. “There was discussion between a few Indivisible Aurora board members, myself included, and a unanimous vote of those present at a full member meeting. Then I filed the paperwork, and planning began.”

The parade is designed to be welcoming to everyone.

“The broad motivation for this event is to show support for the LGBTQ members of our community, but our particular focus is LGBTQ youth,” Ciesla said. “While many have supportive families and schools, not all are so lucky.”

While support can be found in big cities, suburbs may not always have such resources.

“Young people simply face challenges reaching Chicago,” Ciesla said. “Something closer to home is not only more convenient, but reinforces the feeling that their community embraces them.”

The parade lineup starts at 10 a.m.

“We should have approximately 60 units in the parade, varying between floats, vehicles or groups of walkers,” Ciesla said. “Wear sunscreen, and bring your friends and family. Everyone is welcome.”

The parade route starts at South River Street and West Benton Street and continues southeast on West Benton Street to northeast on South Broadway to northwest on West Downer Place, ending on South River Street and West Downer Place.

“It's expected to meet or exceed crowd sizes for other Aurora parades,” Ciesla said. “It will absolutely be family-friendly. My kids will be there.”

Scott Mackay and Danielle Tufano, weekday morning show hosts at radio’s 95.9 The River, will emceeing the parade.

Some local businesses will be offering Pride specials all day, including Leland Legends Pub and Grill, Rocktown Adventures, Tecalitlan Restaurant, La Mina Mexican Grill, Doughballs Pizza Palace, Zen Loft Wellness Center, Balavi Salon Signature, The Web Tavern, Gillerson’s Grubbery, Wyckwood House Market and La Central Bakery. There also will be food trucks on South Stolp Avenue, between West Benton Street and East Galena Boulevard.

Free HIV status checks will be provided by Open Door Health Center of Illinois, 1 E. Benton St.

Indivisible Aurora is a community advocacy group founded in February 2017.

“Indivisible Aurora is focused on issues that will make a concrete difference in the lives of Aurorans, particularly those who are members of marginalized communities,” Ciesla said. “This is evinced by our three largest efforts to date, which have been supporting immigrants, the Pride Parade, and working toward ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.”

Aurora Pride T-shirts will be available for purchase on a first-come, first served basis at the parade for $15.

Inaugural Aurora Pride Parade

When: 12 p.m. June 17

Where: downtown Aurora

Admission: free

Information: www.aurorapride.org

Jen Banowetz is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.

6 CITIES THROWING THEIR FIRST-EVER PRIDE CELEBRATIONS IN 2018

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Aurora, Illinois 

June 17
On Father’s Day, Illinois’ second-largest city will throw its first-ever Pride parade, and this one did face some opposition. Organizers filled out their permit paperwork back in November, but were held up until early 2018 by a small religious group voicing small religious objections. 

“They were using a lot of coded language, I think basically they were afraid it was going to be some sort of debauched bacchanalia,” says parade coordinator Gwyn Ciesla, the organizer who applied for the parade permit.

The real tea is that Aurora’s celebration is in fact predicated on being “G-rated” -- Ciesla says the organizers want the celebration to center student groups from middle schools and high schools. They also expect about one-sixth of the marchers to come from churches and synagogues. Attendance predictions range from 5,000 to as high as 9,000. In accordance with modern American tradition, they are attempting to cover this via a GoFundMe. 

“It’ll reflect the Aurora community in that, in addition to being youth-focused, it’ll be pretty ethnically and religiously diverse,” Ciesla says. “We have a large Latinx population and also a large Muslim population, so it’ll be a rainbow in that sense, too.” 

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Indivisible Aurora Celebrates Pride Night with the Chicago Red Stars

We're planning a special night just for you with our friends at the Chicago Red Stars. Come join us as we cheer on the Red Stars on May 26th at Toyota Park! 

BUY TICKETS, HERE: https://www.fevo.com/…/Indivisible-Aurora-Celebrates-Pride-…

When you purchase, you'll receive your very own referral link to share with your friends and family. Anyone that buys from your link will automatically be seated with you. For every ticket purchased, $5.00 will be donated to Indivisible Aurora to support Aurora's Inaugural Pride Parade.

To pre-purchase parking passes and save time on game day please call 773-698-6804. 

If you have any questions please contact Abbi Williamson at awilliamson@chicagoredstars.com or 773-698-6804.

Buy an Aurora Pride parade T-Shirt for $15

Thank you to our wonderful friends at The Yetee for our wonderful Aurora Pride Parade 2018 t-shirts!

If you are interested in getting an Aurora Pride shirt, we will be selling them at the Pride Parade for $15.

Want a shirt before the Parade? Visit our table at First Fridays in Downtown Aurora on Friday, May 4th and Friday, June 1st!

In addition, The Yetee generously donated t-shirts to all of our volunteers who will be helping out on the day of Aurora's Inaugural Pride Parade!

A huge thank you to The Yetee team!

aurorapride_whiteshirt.png

Scott Mackay and Danielle Tufano, from 95.9 The River, to MC Aurora's Inaugural Pride Parade

We are honored to announce Scott Mackay and Danielle Tufano, weekday morning show hosts from 95.9 The River, will officially be MCing Aurora’s Inaugural Pride Parade!

Not only are we excited to have the amazing support from the Mackay in the Morning with Danielle Tufano show, but Danielle has also been an Aurora resident for more than 20 years!

Mayor Irvin determined to take Aurora to the mountain top in State of the City

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The latter two announcements, which came as a surprise to many aldermen, got a nice round of applause — but no bigger than the one Irvin received when he reminded the audience this year Aurora would hold its first pride parade.

"Controversial, I know," Irvin said, invoking his hero again. "In keeping with the words of Dr. King, there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe nor popular nor politically correct. But he must take it because conscience tells him it is the right thing to do."

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Become a Sponsor Today!

As a sponsor, your, your family's, or your company name will be included on all printed parade communications including the website and app.

Below are the three sponsorship levels which qualify you for inclusion in printed materials as well as additional exposure based on your donation level:
$500 - Platinum level
$300 - Silver level
$150 - Bronze level

If you are interested in donating to or sponsoring Aurora Pride Parade 2018, please click here!

If you'd prefer a more traditional form of donation, you can mail a check or money order to our physical address at: 
Indivisible Aurora
3015 East New York St
Suite A2-273
Aurora, IL 60504

The deadline for all sponsorships is May 1, 2018.
 

We truly appreciate all of the donations, efforts, and support from the community to make this parade become a reality!

See our fabulous sponsors, here!

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