Northalsted Business Alliance

Northalsted Business Alliance: the chamber of commerce for Chicago's LGBTQ+ neighborhood

Northalsted Business Alliance is the chamber of commerce working to strengthen the economic vitality and quality of life of its district through programming, services and events that celebrate LGBTQ+ history, promote tourism and foster a welcoming and safe community for all. Its area of operation is Northalsted, Chicago's landmark LGBTQ+ neighborhood, which the organization itself describes as a welcoming and vibrant destination with more than 50 years of history.

Events and festivals organized

The association is responsible for some of the city's largest street festivals and parades, with more than 40 years of celebrating diverse communities and cultures in the neighborhood. Its calendar includes:

• Northalsted Market Days: annual street festival that the organization presents as the largest in the Midwest and Chicago's most vibrant summer celebration, every August.
• Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade: Halloween parade that the organization ranks among the top ten in the United States according to Fodor's Travel Guide and that Redfin ranked as the third best city destination for Halloween.
• Chicago Pride Fest: two-day street festival held since 2000 on the weekend leading up to the Chicago Pride Parade, dedicated to LGBTQ+ life, culture and community.
• Chicago Pride Parade: annual June parade that draws hundreds of thousands of people.
• Taste of Northalsted: fall food and drink sampling crawl.
• Night of Wellness: an experience dedicated to beauty, health and self-care.
• Movies in the Parking Lot: outdoor movie screenings.
• A Craft Series and The Drag Swap: other activities programmed by the organization.

Business directory and visitors guide

The association maintains a neighborhood business directory organized by category and an interactive map. Categories include services and other businesses, restaurants and cafes, lodging and hotels, health, wellness and gyms, hair salons and barbershops, convenience and food, community and education, and bars and clubs. The directory includes listings for member establishments such as AHF Lakeview / Out of the Closet, AJI Omakase, Amore Sushi House, Big Mini Putt Club, Chicago Diner and Drew's on Halsted. The organization also offers a visitors guide and a gift card (Northalsted Gift Card) accepted at certain locations.

LGBTQ+ heritage and art tour

Northalsted promotes the #WalkWithPride tour, which takes in the neighborhood's Pride-themed installations: 14 rainbow crosswalks and 5 Pride-themed murals. The tour highlights lesser-known LGBTQ+ figures from history through the plaques and steel pylons of The Legacy Walk, a designated Chicago landmark.

District support programs

The organization manages the SSA #18 program and a Rat Abatement Program. It also offers those interested the option to become a member (Membership), subscribe to its newsletter and get in touch with the team through its inquiry form.

Publications and photo archive

Northalsted News features regular news about events and the neighborhood. The website also hosts photo galleries from past editions of Market Days, Pride Fest and Halloween, with images by photographers such as Gary Barris and Keegan Schlosser.

Location and contact

3656 N Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60613 · Phone: (773) 883-0500 · Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5