For the third straight year, Lighthouse LGBTQ+ is sponsoring a party celebrating Pride in the H-F community, an event that has drawn many hundreds from the surrounding south suburban area.
For the third straight year, Lighthouse LGBTQ+ is sponsoring a party celebrating Pride in the H-F community, an event that has drawn many hundreds from the surrounding south suburban area.
evening farmers market enjoy
sunny skies and rainbow
banners put up in preparation
for the Lighthouse Pride Party
on Friday, June 28. The Pride
event will take place on Martin
Square, the same place the
village holds the farmers
market. (Eric Crump/
H-F Chronicle)
In 2017, the inaugural Lighthouse Pride party — the first such event ever held in the South Suburbs — drew about 300 people to the Flossmoor Community House. Last year, the size of the crowd was more than doubled.
On Friday, the party moves to downtown Homewood to make room for an even bigger celebration. The party will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. at Martin Square, located along Martin Avenue between Ridge and Chestnut roads.
Lighthouse was started in 2016 as a support group for area teens and their families.
On Friday, Lighthouse co-founder Stephanie Wright will give opening remarks at 6 p.m. Music begins at 6:30 p.m. with members of the Homewood-Flossmoor High School choirs singing a variety of numbers from musicals. The Eppersons will perform at 7 p.m. and The Lakeside Pride Ukulele Ensemble closes the evening from 8 to 9 p.m.
Food vendors will include Cilantro, Mae’s Que House Food Truck, Empanadus, Sno Daze Tropical Sno, The Sunshine Kitchen, Aurelio’s Pizza, Panda Cookies and LaVoute Bistro and Bar.
Lighthouse Pride Party will feature free activities, including hair spray color sponsored by Jonathan Kane Salon & Spa, face painting sponsored by John Harrell State Farm Insurance and a rainbow craft sponsored by The Village of Homewood. Cookie decorating, sponsored by Panda Baby, will be available with a donation to Lighthouse.
This year, the Homewood Business Association has sponsored its Pride Flag Initiative, a fundraising event for Lighthouse enabling local businesses to fly a rainbow flag in a show of solidarity with the community.
Proceeds from the flag sales will benefit Lighthouse LGBTQ+ and HBA. All proceeds from the Lighthouse Pride Party go to Lighthouse LGBTQ+.