About Edwardsville Queer Homecoming
Queer Homecoming is a week-long Pride celebration in Edwardsville hosted by the EPICenter with Rainbow House, PFLAG and the E'ville Queers Social Group. The 2025 week included queer-led yoga, a skate party, a craft night, an elders round table, an open mic and a homecoming dance for National Coming Out Day.
Queer Homecoming is hosted by the Edwardsville Pride and Inclusivity Center, known as EPIC or the EPICenter, an emerging nonprofit that aims to be a source of pride, safety, equality and support for LGBTQIA+ people in the greater Edwardsville area. It is run by members of the community for the community, and it offers resources, information and guidance to people at any point in their journey.
The group sees its work as active and public rather than quiet, with a focus on local activism in and around Edwardsville. Queer Homecoming was its first Pride event, organized as a series of daily gatherings at locations around town with help from partner groups. The EPICenter also sells merchandise to raise money for its work as a local queer nonprofit.
Summarized from the organizer's own website.
What to expect
Pride events celebrate LGBTQ+ people and mark the Stonewall uprising of June 1969. Most combine a parade or march with a festival of performers, community groups, vendors and food.
Edwardsville Queer Homecoming has included pride week, dance and youth events.
Edwardsville Queer Homecoming was first held in 2025.
The organizer has not announced dates for 2027 yet. It usually falls early to mid-October, around National Coming Out Day.
- Pride week
- Dance
- Youth events
Where it happens
Edwardsville Queer Homecoming is held at Various locations around Edwardsville in Edwardsville, Illinois. It is one of 60 Prides in Illinois on this calendar.
Other nearby Pride festivals
Questions about Edwardsville Queer Homecoming
- When is Edwardsville Queer Homecoming 2027?
- The organizer has not announced 2027 dates yet. It is usually held early to mid-October, around National Coming Out Day.
- Where is Edwardsville Queer Homecoming held?
- Edwardsville Queer Homecoming takes place at Various locations around Edwardsville in Edwardsville, Illinois.
- What happens at Edwardsville Queer Homecoming?
- Events have included: pride week, dance, youth events.
- Who organizes Edwardsville Queer Homecoming?
- Edwardsville Queer Homecoming is organized by Edwardsville Pride Inclusivity Center (EPICenter). Their official site is edwardsvillepride.org.
- What other Prides are near Edwardsville?
- The closest others on this calendar are Alton Pride Festival in Alton, IL (about 12 miles); Black Pride STL Homecoming Weekend in St. Louis, MO (about 17 miles); PrideFest St. Louis in St. Louis, MO (about 17 miles).
LGBTQ-owned businesses in Illinois
See allNone are listed in Edwardsville yet, so these are elsewhere in Illinois. Eat, stay and shop with LGBTQ-owned businesses while you are in town. Ownership on every listing is sourced, never guessed.
