Parade Group & Festival Vendors: Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to the most frequently asked questions, plus other helpful info about our June 7, 2025 parade and festival.

Event date: June 7, 2025
Parade starts: 11 AM
Festival starts: Directly after parade
Festival ends: 5 PM
Cost to enter: $0; this is a free event
Ages and vibe: All-ages, family-friendly, substance-free
Contact: heather@elginpride.org for parade, jon@elginpride.org for festival, hello@elginpride.org for general or stage show questions and info

Key Info

Lineup will begin at 9:30 a.m.
Use Prairie Street to get to the parking lot at the corner of Prairie and Grove Avenue for lineup.
Parade captain Heather Ross will assist and direct you. Please check in with her when you arrive.

Reminders

You are welcome to pass out candy or promotional items. Any items must be handed out, not thrown.
Make sure the items you hand out don’t create excess trash. No loose glitter or confetti, please.
This is a family-friendly parade and festival, so please dress accordingly.
Vehicles and music are welcome.
Feel free to bring signs or banners that advertise your group or share positive messages for the community.

Additional Info

The parade steps off at 11:00 a.m. and will head up Riverside Dr., make a right on Chicago St. then a right on Grove Ave. and circle back, ending where we began.
We will slate the lineup according to what you submitted on your application. We aim to vary the type and size of the participating groups: for example, making sure two groups with music aren’t next to each other.
There will be port-o-lets and hand washing stations on site, as well as access to the public restrooms of Festival Park.
We’ll send a map with lineup zone specifics and parade order closer to June 7.

The festival will take place in Elgin’s Festival Park along South Grove Ave. The street will be open for unloading/drop off from 9:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m.
Vendors must arrive prior to 11:00 to unload and set up. The street will be closed at 11:00, and all vehicles must be moved prior to that time.
Vendor unloading will be on the west/river side. (Food vendors will park along the east/condominium side of the street.)
Approach the park from the north, coming down Prairie St and turning left onto South Grove Ave.
Once unloaded, please move your vehicle and park elsewhere before setting everything up. A map of free parking options will be on our website. Do not park in the Grand Victoria Casino riverboat’s garage or parking lot.

Reminders

When you arrive, please check in at the Vendor Registration tent.
Vendor spaces are 10'x10', and anything you bring must fit within that space.
You must provide your own 10'x10' tent/canopy, tables, chairs, signage, and any other necessary supplies.
Electricity is not provided, so if you require power bring your own power source.
Festival Park is a large grass field, so be prepared for that environment.
Do not block walkway or pass-through areas.
Tent stakes are not allowed by the city, so all tents must be secured with sandbags or weights.
All parade- and festival-related items must be removed from Festival Park no later than 7 p.m.

The festival will take place in Elgin’s Festival Park along South Grove Ave. The street will be open for unloading/drop off from 9:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m.
Arrive prior to 11:00 a.m. to set up.
Food vendors/trucks will be along the east/condominium side of South Grove Ave, across from Festival Park.
Approach from the south using Lake St. or South Grove Ave (coming in from National/the Riverboat's direction).
Please park a few feet away from the curb.

Reminders

Check in at the Vendor Registration tent when you arrive.
Food trucks and food vendors will have a designated parking/setup space.
All food vendors must supply their own power source and water. Using a generator? Let us know ASAP so we can coordinate with the city.
All food vendors must have either a temporary food service permit from the city or a mobile/seasonal food license from the Kane County Health Department on file at least 2 weeks prior to the event. The City of Elgin Health Department has final discretion over food vendors. Please contact Brad Bohner at brad.bohner@elginil.gov if you have questions about permitting or health department approval.
All parade- and festival-related items must be removed from Festival Park no later than 7 p.m.
The sale of liquor or alcoholic beverages is not permitted.