Rainbow Café, along with Southern Illinois University Carbondale, will be celebrating LGBTQIA+ History Month in Southern Illinois with a series of events throughout the first annual Southern Illinois LGBTQ Fest happening Sept. 30 through Oct. 2.
The SIUC LGBTQ Resource Center and Rainbow Cafe are collaborating this year and hosting a LGBTQIA+ Ballroom Extravaganza to kick off the festivities at 7 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.) on Friday, Sept. 30, at the SIU Student Center Ballrooms. Members of the Shades Project St. Louis will host a Ballroom 101 workshop before attendees are invited to “walk” and vogue to a variety of categories as the crowd cheers them on. Everyone of all ages are invited to attend this fun fundraising event. There is suggested donation for SIU students and $7 for community members at the door.
On Saturday, Oct. 1, from noon to 5:00 p.m., Rainbow Café will kick off the first day of LBGTQIA+ History Month with live music, family friendly entertainment, vendors, food trucks and more in the Veteran Memorial Plaza located in downtown Carbondale, Illinois. Maxi Glamour, season 3 contestant on The Boulet Brother’s Dragula and self-titled “Demon Queen of Polka and Baklava”, will provide a stunningly artistic performance as one of many featured performers throughout the day. Additional entertainment will be provided by Loose Gravel, Jenni and the Housewives, Super Fun Yeah Yeah Rocketship, and local drag performers. Rain Foxx, the dancing diva of Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri, will serve as the afternoon’s emcee and featured entertainer.
Immediately following the festival at 5:00 p.m., attendees (21 and up) are invited to continue the celebration with a bar crawl to surrounding bars (Tres Hombres, Buckwater Brew Works, the Cellar, and PK’s). Later that evening, youth ages 13-18 are invited to attend a free youth after party at Gaia House starting at 7pm to enjoy karaoke, games, and snacks.
On Sunday, Oct. 2, at 9:30 a.m., the First Presbyterian Church of Carbondale will provide an LGBTQ affirming service. All are invited to attend and refreshments are included.
Come celebrate LGBTQIA+ History Month with the Rainbow Café from Sept. 30 through Oct. 2, 2022. The Southern Illinois LGBTQ Fest is a fundraiser for Rainbow Café. The Rainbow Café is a nonprofit organization that has served the LGBTQ+ community of Southern Illinois for over 20 years. For more information about Rainbow Café visit rainbowcafe.org. The Rainbow Café is still seeking sponsors, volunteers, and donations for this event. If you are able to support or have questions, please email [email protected] and visit the Facebook event at https://fb.me/e/2egpOkAFR.