Rainbow Café presents the first annual Southern Illinois LGBTQ FEST
Date/Time
Date(s) - 09/30/2022 - 10/02/2022
12:00 am
Categories
Southern Illinois LGBTQ Fest (formerly named Southern Illinois Pride Fest) is just
around the corner! Rainbow Café along with Southern Illinois University Carbondale
will be celebrating LGBTQIA+ History Month in Southern Illinois with a series of events
throughout the first annual Southern Illinois LGBTQ Fest happening September 30th
through October 2nd
. The SIUC LGBTQ Resource Center and Rainbow Cafe are collaborating this year and
hosting a LGBTQIA+ Ballroom Extravaganza to kick off the festivities at 7 pm (doors at
6:30pm) on Friday, September 30th at the SIU Student Center Ballrooms. Members of
the Shades Project St. Louis will host a Ballroom 101 workshop before attendees are
invited to “walk” and vogue to a variety of categories as the crowd cheers them on.
Everyone of all ages are invited to attend this fun fundraising event. There is suggested
donation of $ for SIU students and $7 for community members at the door.
On Saturday, October 1st from noon to 5:00pm, Rainbow Café will kick off the first day
of LBGTQIA+ History Month with live music, family friendly entertainment, vendors,
food trucks and more in the Veteran Memorial Plaza located in downtown Carbondale,
Illinois. Maxi Glamour, season 3 contestant on The Boulet Brother’s Dragula and selftitled “Demon Queen of Polka and Baklava”, will provide a stunningly artistic
performance as one of many featured performers throughout the day. Additional
entertainment will be provided by Loose Gravel, Jenni and the Housewives, Super Fun
Yeah Yeah Rocketship, and local drag performers. Rain Foxx, the dancing diva of
Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri, will serve as the afternoon’s emcee and
featured entertainer.
Immediately following the festival at 5:00pm, attendees (21 and up) are invited to
continue the celebration with a fun bar crawl to surrounding bars (Tres Hombres,
Buckwater Brew Works, the Cellar, and PK’s). Later that evening, youth ages 13-18 are
invited to attend a free youth after party at Gaia House starting at 7pm to enjoy karaoke,
games, and snacks.
On Sunday, October 2nd at 9:30am, the First Presbyterian Church of Carbondale will
provide an LGBTQ+ affirming service. All are invited to attend and refreshments are
included.
Come celebrate LGBTQIA+ History Month with the Rainbow Café from September 30th
through the October 2nd, 2022. The Southern Illinois LGBTQ Fest is a fundraiser for
Rainbow Café. The Rainbow Café is a nonprofit organization that has served the
LGBTQ+ community of Southern Illinois for over 20 years. For more information about
Rainbow Café visit rainbowcafe.org. The Rainbow Café is still seeking sponsors,
volunteers, and donations for this event. If you are able to support or have questions,
please email lgbtqfest@rainbowcafe.org and visit our Facebook event at
https://fb.me/e/2egpOkAFR.