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Welcome, beautiful humans!
Whether you’ve been with us from the very beginning, just discovered our community, or are stopping by as a proud ally, we are absolutely thrilled to have you here. This newsletter is your go-to hub for everything happening in our vibrant local LGBTQ+ community.
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Inside each issue, you’ll find updates on upcoming local events, spotlights on community members and grassroots initiatives, resources, and meaningful ways to get involved. Thank you for bringing your unique energy, voice, and heart to our community. Together, we are building a more inclusive, connected, and colorful Joliet!
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JPN Monthly Recurring Events
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Wallyball
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Saturday, August 15th @ 11am
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Joliet Pride Network is Proud to sponsor Wallyball every third Saturday of the month from 11am – 1pm at the Annerino Community Center in Bolingbrook. The event is free to attend, it isn’t a competitive game, and is just a lot of fun!
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Join us to meet new friends, create community, and play wallyball! Similar to volleyball except it is played on a racquetball court and you can use the walls. There is no expectation that you have played before or that you are athletic. This is a fun social game for all skill levels. Come on your own or grab a friend and have some fun. The best part, there are no fees because the game is on us.
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Monthly Gayme Night
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Thursday, August 20th @ 7pm
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The Joliet Pride Network hosts a regular “gayme” night at the Critical Grind Board Game Cafe in Shorewood, IL on the third Thursday of the month from 7-11pm. JPN covers the $5 admission fee.
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The “gayme” night is an event designed to promote inclusion, dignity, and acceptance by providing a safe and friendly environment for the local LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Attendees gather to play various tabletop games, fostering community and social connection.
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Joliet Slammers' Swiftie Night
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Friday, August 21st @ 6:35pm
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Are you ready for it, Joliet? 🎵✨
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Join the Joliet Pride Network for a magical, music-filled evening at the ballpark for Swiftie Night with the Joliet Slammers! Whether you’re in your Fearless era or your 189 era, come out on Thursday, August 21st at 6:35 PM to celebrate community, pride, and the music of Taylor Swift.
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Even better? Joliet Pride Network is offering discounted tickets for just $10, and 100% of the proceeds from the tickets sold through us go directly toward supporting our local LGBTQ+ community programs and advocacy.
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Don’t let this be a Sad Beautiful Tragic moment—grab your crew, put on your favorite era-inspired outfit, and secure your tickets today! You can purchase them directly from a Joliet Pride Network board member or online right now at jolietpridenetwork.org.
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Let’s make the whole place shimmer! ⚾️🏳️🌈✨
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Prose & Pride Book Club
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Sunday, August 23rd @ 2-4pm
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Join us for this month’s book club featuring the YA novel “Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire” by local best-selling author Don Martin.
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Don will be there for an author reading, followed by discussion questions, Q&A from the audience, and finally a book signing. Don requests that you purchase your copy of the book from a local independent bookseller or from Bookshop.org. Copies for purchase will also be available at the event, along with his other books.
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Book club is hosted this month by Critical Grind,located at 852 Sharp Dr # L, Shorewood, IL 60404
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Book Synopsis
WELCOME TO FOXFIRE The rules here are simple:
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- Don’t look in the trees.
- Don’t whistle in the woods at night.
- Don’t answer if you hear your name called.
- And remember . . . everything wants.
Verity Vox is a witch-in-training who has never met a problem her spells can’t solve. But when a cryptic plea for help sends her to the forgotten coal mining town of Foxfire, she soon learns even magic has its limits.
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Verity discovers a curse was laid years ago by a traveling magician who vanished into the ancient Appalachian hills to seek greater power. Crops won’t grow. Bellies go hungry. Even treasured possessions fall apart. What’s worse, people have gone missing amidst rumors that they’ve sought out the magician who is lying in wait for those foolish or desperate enough to strike a deal with him.
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The witch must break the curse, find a missing girl, and solve the mystery of what’s really under the mountain before the town falls forever into the clutches of the monster lurking in the hills.
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About The Author
Don Martin is a New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestselling author of nonfiction, poetry, and young adult fantasy. Born in Appalachia, he is the author of the critically acclaimed debut YA novel Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire (2025) and the nonfiction deep-dive Where Did Everybody Go?, which explores the historical and social roots of the loneliness epidemic.
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Other works include two collections of poetry—while I wait to be a god again, and The Playground—as well as the nonfiction work The Dabbler’s Guide to Witchcraft.
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Don is also the creator and host of the inquisitive podcast Head On Fire, where he interviews experts in overlooked or misunderstood fields. His work is known for its atmospheric storytelling, signature humor, and poignant commentary on the human experience.
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He lives just outside Chicago with his husband and their many pets. You can find him daily on TikTok and Instagram at @ByDonMartin. His literary agent is Kate Davids of ARC Literary Management.
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Monthly Movie Night
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Tuesday, August 25th @ 7pm
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Join us on Tuesday, August 25th, for a fun evening out as we watch the newly released film Insidious 6 (2026) at Regal Cinema Bolingbrook.
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Relax, unwind, and enjoy great company with the Joliet Pride Network!
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Tickets: $5 each (discounted by JPN!)
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● 6:30 PM – Doors open to attendees
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● 7:00 PM – Movie with short previews begins
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Concessions will be served and ready upon arrival.
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Insidious: Out of the Further is the sixth movie in the Insidious franchise.
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It follows Gemma, a young mother who discovers she can enter The Further—and, terrifyingly, bring the demons from that realm back into the real world. Lin Shaye returns as Elise Rainier, while Jacob Chase directs.
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Community Trail Cleanup Volunteer Opportunity
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Saturday, August 28th @ 11am-1pm
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🧹✨ Volunteers Needed for Community Trail Cleanup! ✨🧹
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Join the Joliet Pride Network as we give back to our community and spruce up a portion of the Joliet Junction Trail! 🌲💪
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Whether you're looking to log volunteer hours, meet great people, or just enjoy some fresh air while making a difference, we'd love to have you on the team.
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📅 When: Saturday, August 29th
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⏰ Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
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📍 Parking / Starting Location: 2320 Black Rd, Joliet, IL (We will be heading North toward Ingalls Ave.)
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Coffee & Conversation
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Just in time for Fall, Joliet Pride Network is pleased to announce that we will be starting a bi-weekly coffee meetup this September! Join us to learn about our upcoming events & volunteer opportunities, chat about LGBTQIA+ news & issues, or just hang out in a welcoming, relaxed space with other members of our community.
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We have split the meetups between the morning that got the most votes and the evening that got the most votes. Here is the schedule for September & October:
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- Saturday, 9/5 10-11:30am @ Social Butterfly Coffee in Joliet
- Friday, 9/17 7-8:30pm @ Critical Grind in Shorewood
- Saturday, 10/3 10-11:30am @ Tazza in Joliet
- Friday, 10/16 7-8:30pm @ Starbucks on W Jefferson Joliet
- Saturday, 10/31 10-11:30am @ Jitters in Joliet
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Game of Tones
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Thursday, September 3rd @ 7pm
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Forget everything you know about your grandma’s bingo hall. No rolling cages, no dusty daubers, and definitely no silence.
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Every first Thursday of the month, Critical Grind transforms into a battlefield of beats and rhythms for Game of Tones Musical Bingo! If you’ve got a “critical hit” ear for music and a competitive streak, this is the night you’ve been waiting for.
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- Hear the Hook: A song blasts through the speakers
- Check the Card: If that track is on your bingo sheet, mark it off.
- Claim Victory: Be the first to shout “BINGO” and bask in the glory!
Hosted by the high-energy legends at Liquid Kourage Entertainment, this isn’t just a game—it’s a party. Instead of listening for “B-12,” you’ll be listening for song snippets.
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Whether it’s 80s hair metal, 90s pop anthems, or modern chart-toppers, Liquid Kourage keeps the playlist fresh and the energy electric.
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Monthly Gayme Night
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Thursday, September 17th @ 7pm
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The Joliet Pride Network hosts a regular “gayme” night at the Critical Grind Board Game Cafe in Shorewood, IL on the third Thursday of the month from 7-11pm. JPN covers the $5 admission fee.
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The “gayme” night is an event designed to promote inclusion, dignity, and acceptance by providing a safe and friendly environment for the local LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Attendees gather to play various tabletop games, fostering community and social connection.
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Joliet PrideFest 2026
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Saturday, September 19th @ 12pm
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Get Ready to Shine: Joliet PrideFest is Back! 🎉🌈
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Mark your calendars, grab your glitter, and dust off your rainbow gear because the Joliet Pride Network is bringing the energy, the love, and the community back to town! On Saturday, September 19th, Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park will transform into a vibrant, rainbow-filled celebration for this year’s highly anticipated theme: "Rooted in Pride".
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Running from Noon to 5:00 PM, the free, family-friendly daytime festival is all about connecting, celebrating diversity, and creating unforgettable memories. No matter who you are or who you love, there is a place for you to stand loud and proud!
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✨ What’s in Store For You:
💃 Show-Stopping Entertainment: Catch the spectacular daytime drag show and cheer on local stars at the Community Talent Show!
🚚 Delicious Food Trucks: Fuel up for the day with a fantastic lineup of local eats.
🛍️ Massive Vendor Market: Shop and support local LGBTQ+-affirming businesses, artisans, and organizations.
🎨 Fun for All Ages: Dedicated Kid Zones filled with family activities and interactive Teen Zones mean the whole crew can join the party.
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Joliet PrideFest After Dark
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Saturday, September 19th, 7-10pm
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Keep the celebration going after hours with Joliet PrideFest After Dark! 🌈✨
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When the sun sets on the daytime festivities, the energy turns up for this exclusive 18+ ticketed event.
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Join us in the theater at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park for an unforgettable evening of music, dancing, and high-energy entertainment. Featuring electrifying drag performances and culminating with the crowning of Miss Joliet PrideFest 2026.
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