Lake County PrideFest

Lake County PrideFest is the largest annual Pride celebration in Lake County, held at the Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center. The free, family-friendly festival includes food trucks, artisan vendors, a resource fair, children's games, drag shows and live music. It also serves as a fundraiser for the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County.

PrideFest is the main fundraiser for the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to make Lake County a place where LGBTQ+ people and their families can thrive. Entry is free, and a suggested $10 donation at the door supports the center's advocacy, legal support and community building. The 2025 festival raised more than $70,000, and the 2026 festival, the sixth, was held June 20.

The center has grown from a single support group to seven groups each month, including groups for youth. It also hosts community meetups, advocates in schools, helps with legal name and gender marker changes, assists with emergency housing, connects people to affirming care providers and has offered prescription assistance to low-income families.

Volunteers staff the welcome tent, kids corner, merchandise and raffle sales, grounds crew and setup and teardown. Local and national businesses, churches and organizations sponsor the event, and vendors and nonprofits can book space in the vendor fair.

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.

Lake County PrideFest has included festival, resource fair, drag, live music and kids activities.

The organizer has not announced dates for 2027 yet. In 2026 it was held June 20, 2026. It usually falls mid to late June, Saturday.