Busy weekend with C-U Pride parade, events ahead

To pitch a ‘My Turn’ guest column, email jdalessio@news-gazette.com .

Want to purchase today’s print edition? Here’s a map of single-copy locations.

URBANA — Champaign-Urbana’s fall Pride Fest has been underway all week, but the big events pack this weekend, including a parade featuring grand marshal Ja’Naea Modest.

Modest is better known around C-U by her performer name, DJ Silkee, under which she provides music for everything from city programming to University of Illinois events to homecoming dances.

She also teaches DJ skills to young women with her SheSpins camp program and was named Central Illinois Business 2023 Woman of the Year.

This year’s parade has a new route, starting around the E. Illinois St. and S. Broadway Ave. intersection in Urbana, heading over to S. Race St. and north to W. Elm, then back west to S. Broadway, heading north to wrap up at Water St.

It will kick off at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Parade participants should be putting their best feet forward because they’ll be competing for a few different titles like Best Float and Best in Show.

Also starting at 1 p.m. Saturday is the Pride Fest Fair, which will be centered around the intersection of S. Race St. and W. Main St. in Urbana.

The fair will feature two entertainment stages with music and performances from several drag artists.

Saturday features all the big celebrations, but the party starts on Friday with a Youth and Family Pride Party from 3:30-6 p.m. at the Phillips Recreation Center.

At 6 p.m., an all-ages party with music from DJ Silkee and graduates of SheSpins kicks off in downtown Champaign.

A show by Carnival Debauche and Defy Gravity is also scheduled for 8 p.m. at Seven Saints that evening, but tickets are already sold out.

C-U Pride closes out for the year with a drag brunch at 10 a.m. at Anthem with food from Big Grove Tavern, followed by dancing, happy hour and karaoke.