Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Chicago’s first post-lockdown festival and simultaneous salute to all things LGBTQ+ found a silver lining at the end of the rainbow to joyfully close out Pride In The Park after a soggy start.

Headliner Chaka Khan, straight off “The Masked Singer,” was surely a major factor in packing Grant Park and the legendary R&B songstress was nothing short of fantastic from the moment she confidently strode out to “This Is My Night,” backed by a smoking four-piece band and three soulful background vocalists.

The Windy City Native with a whopping ten Grammy Awards in her arsenal delivered one ageless classic after the next since fronting the funk band Rufus to going solo, including “What Cha’ Gonna Do for Me,” “Tell Me Something Good” and “Sweet Thing” in what was basically an abbreviated edition of 2020’s concert collection, “Homecoming.”

During the empowering “I’m Every Woman,” a cannon of confetti shot into the air and added to Pride In The Park’s communal feel, while “Ain’t Nobody” kept the grooves going like only this diva can deliver.

Co-headlining DJ/producer Gryffin wrapped up the evening with an eye-popping light show and ear-pleasing remixes of The Killers, Icona Pop and many others, while also interspersing original electronic tunes off his latest long player, “Gravity.”

Additional DJs and drag galore adorned the festivities, including RuPaul-certified star The Vixen, plus local loves Tenderoni and Kinley Preston, all of whom turned in creative and colorful interpretive performances.

Kicking off the party was fellow Grammy recipient Tracy Young, who made history just last year as the first woman to ever win in the “Best Remixed Recording” and continues to put her pumped-up spin on Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears and literally everyone.

Put it all together with tons of other performers, activists and vendors of various stripes, and Pride In The Park ultimately went down as a safe, inclusive, enjoyable and entertaining uncorking to a summer of fresh starts.

For additional information on Pride In The Park, visit PrideInTheParkChicago.com.

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