Joliet PrideFest made its official debut on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots on June 29, 2019, marking a milestone as the city of Joliet’s first-ever public Pride festival.
Organized by local grassroots leaders from the Will County chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and the Community Alliance & Action Network (CAAN) (who went on to establish the Joliet Pride Network), the event was born out of a desire to create a dedicated, inclusive space for the LGBTQ+ community in Will County and the surrounding southwest suburbs—eliminating the need for residents to travel to Chicago to find welcoming celebration and resources.
Held along the Des Plaines River at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park, the inaugural PrideFest established a family-friendly atmosphere featuring local vendors, entertainment, community outreach organizations, and youth activities. From its inception, Joliet PrideFest was designed not only as a day of celebration, but as an engine to build visibility, foster local LGBTQ+ support networks, and celebrate diversity directly within the Joliet community.