Northalsted Market Days
Dates: August 8-9, 2020
Location: North Halsted Street – Chicago
Hours: 11AM-10PM
Attendance: 150,000
Overview:
On August 8th and 9th, more than 150,000 members and friends of the LGBTQ community will converge on North Halsted Street to celebrate the 37th annual Northalsted Market Days. This event is the oldest and largest LGBTQ street fest in the USA.
The event takes place on North Halsted, a major Chicago thoroughfare and the historic epicenter of the city’s vibrant gay/lesbian community. Market Days spans six city blocks and has 17 entrance gates. It features four music stages where more than 50 musical acts will perform. Many of them are top-name, national headliners.
The event began thirty-eight years ago as a sidewalk sale in which local merchants put merchandise on the sidewalks and sold for deep discounts. Although the event has morphed into a huge operation, with major entertainment, food, and drink components- it has always retained it’s shopping/marketplace roots. Chicagoans from all walks of life come to shop the nearly 400 exhibitor booths. These vendors, from all across the country, apply months in advance for the privilege of showcasing their wares to this huge, upscale crowd with a high disposable income. Vendors are selected for the quality and uniqueness of their wares thus ensuring a unique and fun shopping experience for all.
So iconic is this event within the LGBTQ community that many attendees, including foreigners, plan their summer vacations around it. ‘Market Days’ has a pronounced economic impact on both the community and the City of Chicago. Area hotels and restaurants are booked to capacity a year in advance, and bar and restaurant sales begin a significant increase as much as a month in advance of the event.
Media coverage of the event is extensive. Most local TV news gives it coverage, and five or more major radio stations promote the event and have live presence on-site.
Sponsorship Opportunity
Northalsted Market Days provides a perfect opportunity to directly target this audience of upscale, educated, LGBTQ adults between the ages of 21 and 49 in a relaxed, friendly environment.
Sponsor benefits include naming rights, one entire day/night of direct live exposure, logo placement in print media and collateral materials, couponing and bounce-back opportunities, and customized promotions.
Events & Venues
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April Events
The Black Women's Expo
Salt Lake City Marathon & Lifestyle Expo
American Cancer Society- Walk and Roll
Randolph Street Market
May Events
American Brain Tumor Walk
The Lucky 13
Southwest Half Marathon
Lincoln Park Wine Festival
San Diego Taco Fest
Randolph Street Market
Do Division
Taste of Mexico
Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival
Taco & Tequila Festival
June Events
Do Division
Taste of Mexico
Hyde Park Summer Fest
Pilsen Food Truck Social
Wells Street Art Festival
Diva Fest
Winnetka Music Festival
Custer Fair Festival of the Arts
Chicago Pridefest
Fountain Square Artisan Fest
The Highland Park Festival of Fine Arts
World Pride Music Festivals
Pride in the Park
July Events
Windy City Rib Fest
Old School Reunion
Lake Forest 4th of July
West Fest
Chicago’s Roscoe Village Burger Fest
Chinatown Summer Fair
Sheffield Music Festival
Festival Columbiano
Taste of Lincoln Avenue
Starlight Festival (@ Yerkes Observatory)
Randolph Street Market
Lake County Fair
Jeff Fest
Chicago Brewing District’s Dancing in the Streets
August Events
Lake County Fair
Jeff Fest
Chicago Brewing District's Dancing in the Streets
Festival Polonaise
Bud Billiken Parade & Picnic
Northalsted Market Days
South Shore Summer Festival
Taste of Greektown
Logan Square Social
Naper Pride Fest
African Festival of the Arts
September Events
African Festival of the Arts
Naperville Last Fling
Friends of Labor Festival
Fiestas Patrias (Festival La Villita)
Throwback Music Festival
Bourbon & Barbecue Festival
26th Street Mexican Parade
The Black Women's Expo
Taste of St Louis
El Grito del Delores
Chicago Taco Fest
Chicago's Oktoberfest
Randolph Street Market
Walk to End Alzheimer's
October Events
November Events
Randolph Street Market
December Events
Year Round Opportunities
Contact:
Norine Smyth
312.799.0354
nsmyth@sponsorchicago.com














