Pride Party Planning in Chicago: Rooftop, Patio, Home

Pride in Chicago is a big weekend. The parade is on the last Sunday in June, and parties spread across the North Side and all over the city: rooftops, patios, apartments with a balcony, backyards and bars. Hosts often set out to feed 20 to 60 friends and find out on the day that the street is closed, the train is packed and no one has a seat in the shade.

This guide helps you plan for the real conditions: heat, crowds, long hours and a lot of coming and going.

Pick the kind of party

Most Pride parties are one of three types.

• A watch party near the route. Guests come before the parade, watch from a balcony, rooftop or a front yard, eat and drink, and head out into the crowd.
• An after-parade party. Guests walk back from the parade tired, hot and hungry. They want shade, cold drinks, a seat and food.
• A full-day open house. People drop in and out all day. It is the hardest to plan for because the headcount at any moment keeps changing.

For route details, parade start time and street closures, check the official parade information for the year. Do not rely on last year's map.

Standing or seating?

Pride parties are mostly standing parties, with seating in pockets. A good starting point is a seat for about 1 in 3 guests at a watch party, and about 1 in 2 for an after-parade party where people are tired. Hosts who plan a seat for everyone end up with a crowded room and no space to move.

For a rooftop, count how many people the space can hold. Check with your building about guest limits and any rules on rooftop use, since buildings set their own. Our guide to Chicago rooftop event rentals covers weight, elevators and wind.

Shade and water come first

The last Sunday in June is often hot in Chicago, and a day of standing in the sun takes it out of people.

• Shade. Market umbrellas or a pop-up canopy work on a patio. A rooftop may need ballast bases, so check with the building. Ask about weights for any tent or umbrella.
• Water. Set up a dispenser or two, with cups. Do not count on beverages alone. See water station ideas.
• Cooling. Fans help in a covered space and misters help in dry heat. See misting and shade for summer events.
• Ice. A hot day uses more than you think. Our how much ice guide shows the math.

Getting there and getting home

Streets around the parade close, parking is hard and trains and buses run full. Tell guests early.

• Send a note a week before. Suggest transit, a rideshare drop-off a few blocks away, or walking.
• Give a clear arrival time. Guests who arrive an hour before the parade have an easier time than guests who show up as the street closes.
• Say where to meet. If your building has a buzzer, a doorman or a freight elevator, tell people what to do.
• Plan for deliveries. A rental truck cannot reach a closed street. Ask for delivery on Friday or Saturday, not on parade morning. See guest parking and transit plan for Chicago.

Restrooms

A long party with lots of drinks stresses one bathroom fast. A good rule of thumb is one restroom per 25 to 50 guests for a few hours, and more for a long day.

• Tell guests where the bathroom is. Put a sign on the door.
• Stock paper towels, soap and extra toilet paper before guests arrive.
• For a backyard party with 50 or more guests, think about a portable restroom. See how many portable restrooms per guests.
• If a guest uses a wheelchair or a walker, check step-free access to the bathroom. See ADA restroom considerations.

What to rent

For a typical party of 40 guests, think about:

See tables, chairs and heating and cooling for what is available. Use the rental order calculator for counts.

What most hosts find out too late

• Buildings have their own rules. Many Chicago condo and apartment buildings limit rooftop guests, require notice for a party or need a certificate of insurance for deliveries. Ask your building early. See freight elevator and COI notes.
• Heat on a roof is higher than on the ground. A rooftop deck with no shade can feel hotter than the weather report. Plan shade and water for the first hour, not the third.
• Streets close early. Delivery and pickup near the route may need different days. Ask the rental company if they can drop off a day before and pick up Monday or Tuesday.
• Wind on a high roof can tip tall items. Use heavy bases for umbrellas, and skip tall signs and light balloon arches.

Plan your Pride party rentals

Book a free 15-minute planning call and we will help you pick tables, chairs, shade and cooling for your space. Or get a quote with your guest count, address and date. We check the date with the rental companies for you.