What's Happening?

Springfield IL (April 18, 2026) Spring may not have sprung as of yet but the activities are picking up early. If you’re looking for something to do or preparing for the upcoming season, here are but a few activities you can consider.

A new group was born a little over a year ago called “Young People’s Group 2.0,” led by David Kohrus. The social group is for members of the LGBTQIA+ and allies aged 18 to 30 years old and they meet at the Lincoln Library on the 2^nd and 4^th Monday’s of every month from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.  For more interest on the group and their activities, you can email David at DMK321IL@aol.com. 

For the older members 55+ of the LGBTQIA community who enjoy coffee and conversation, there’s a new activity for you.  Every Monday, the Phoenix Center and PrideLinc have donuts and coffee at the Scarritt location from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m.  What a nice way to begin the week.

The Pridefest season will officially begin on April 25^th as Bond County Pride has their first full blown Pridefest event at the Greenville Square beginning at 2:00 p.m.  The schedule includes a Pride March, Vendors and Food trucks, and music throughout the day before the Drag Revue from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  If you’re up for a road trip, they would love to see you there. 

Jacksonville Pride is preparing for their Pridefest event on May 30^th and are looking for vendors to join their event.  If you would like to have a table at their Pridefest, you can email jacksonvilleilpride@gmail.com or go to their Facebook page Jacksonville Pride Celebration and make your request.  This event has grown every year since it’s advent about four years ago and has always been enjoyable for CORAL.

Springfield Pridefest is putting the final touches on their Pridefest event scheduled for May 16^th and are currently looking for volunteers to help in various areas of the event.  Most of the opportunities are set up in shifts of 2-4 hours each.  They would love to have help with the event in any capacity you can offer.  Please consider stepping up and signing up for a shift by going to springfieldpride.org and clicking on the ‘volunteer’ page.