Despite persistent rain and cool temperatures, parking spaces were scarce in the large commuter lot serving Lake County PrideFest 2024 in Round Lake Beach on Saturday.
The event featured community tables, drag shows, bubble art, food trucks and more. The free, family-oriented outdoor festival sponsored by the Grayslake-based LGBTQ+ Center Lake County was planned as a community celebration and fundraiser at the Round Lake Beach Cultural & Civic Center.
More than 100 sponsors, vendors and exhibitors participated, with more than 4,000 people expected at Lake County’s largest Pride festival, according to Kristal Larson, the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County executive director.
Larson is also Avon Township clerk, and serves as the first openly transgender elected official in Lake County and one of less than 100 nationwide, according to Larson’s biography.
“We are glad to be in a county that supports diversity and inclusion,” said Larson, who grew up in Round Lake and graduated from Mundelein’s Carmel Catholic High School in 1993. “Having a welcoming community for events like Lake County PrideFest works to foster a sense of unity and belonging for LGBTQ+ community members, families, friends and allies.
“It’s a place where people can connect, meet new friends and find the resources that matter to them,” Larson continued. “We are fortunate to have strong support from state and local officials, along with many corporate and local organizations. We are working to further those efforts to make Lake County a place where those in less-accepting areas feel comfortable.”
In the rain, U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, visited community booths where tents or awnings helped to manage the rainwater. One table with paper goods had significant water damage to tabletop contents, but people staffing the booth were good sports as Schneider stopped by to say hello.
“It’s important for me to be at all the things in my community, but certain things stand out,” he said. “And at PrideFest … it’s the community coming together, saying, ‘Love is Love, all are welcome, all belong here.’”
Schneider noted that Lake County PrideFest, is growing. “It’s doing great, even with the rain,” he said. “Spirits are high. People are enjoying themselves. It’s a great time.”
Daniel McCuiston and Jorge Garcia-McCuiston of Volo attended with their children Martell Garcia-McCuiston, 14, and Aaliyah Garcia-McCuiston, 16. Daniel McCuiston said it was important to attend as a family, “to show diversity and inclusion and acceptance for everybody, and all the differences and fabulousness.”
Jorge Garcia-McCuiston said, “We’re here to show support for the community and rain or shine, we’re going to be here.”
The drag show emceed by Auntie Heroine of Rockford was a well-attended attraction.
“Lake County, they always treat me so well,” Auntie Heroine said. “They’re always so receptive. Pride in general is always so, so important. It’s a time when we all get to be out and open, be ourselves, celebrate where we’ve come, the people that we’ve lost along the way, those who paved a path for us.
“When we are out and loud, and we are visible — no haters, no bigots, no people that try to tear us down, have the power,” Auntie Heroine said. “We have the power. When we come together as a community, nothing can stop us. That’s what Pride is about.”
