Chicago is one of the top Pride Month destinations for 2025, per Airbnb

If you were planning to spend Pride Month somewhere fun, fabulous and full of flavor (rainbow and otherwise), you wouldn't be alone in choosing Chicago. According to Airbnb's 2025 travel data, the Windy City is one of the top trending Pride Month destinations among Gen Z and Millennial travelers, with searches spiking 37% over last year's numbers.
Chicago joins the ranks of other buzzworthy Pride cities like Boston, Bogotá and Cologne, all seeing a swell in bookings as younger generations plan trips around parades, parties and unforgettable experiences. The data tracks bookings for late June, just in time for the city's big Pride festivities, including the iconic Chicago Pride Parade, which draws nearly a million people annually.
And it's not just about marching. Airbnb has also spotlighted ' The Animated Tour of Chicago ' as one of the standout experiences travelers are booking while in town. The creative walking tour, hosted by local artist and animator O.J., blends history, city landmarks and vibrant visuals into a delightfully nerdy cultural deep dive. Think Schoolhouse Rock meets Chicago Architecture Center—with original art, humor and just the right dash of weird. Reviews call it '10/10,' 'super fun' and 'an incredible, inspiring start to the trip.'
Pride-seekers can also take advantage of Airbnb's expanding menu of local services, from in-home yoga to prepared meals, all geared toward helping visitors make the most of their stay no matter their budget or itinerary.
Chicago's place on the list makes sense: The city boasts a thriving LGBTQ+ community, legendary nightlife and plenty of rainbow-splashed events throughout the month. But it's also a city of neighborhoods—each offering something different, whether you're brunching in Boystown, gallery-hopping in Pilsen or cruising the lakefront on a Divvy bike with a drag queen-led tour (yes, that exists).

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Record

an hour ago

• Daily Record

Pride and Prejudice cast now from tragic death to huge action role fans didn't spot

The 2005 film adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice has become one of the most beloved period dramas of all time - here's a look at the main cast, 20 years on Two decades on from its release, the 2005 film Pride and Prejudice remains the most recognised adaptation of Jane Austen's work and one of the most cherished period dramas ever created. The plot centres around Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy, who initially harbour a mutual dislike due to Darcy's arrogance and Elizabeth's preconceived notions, as well as their contrasting social and economic backgrounds. ‌ The film portrays their transition from hostility to affection, amidst misunderstandings and personal development, whilst delving into themes of societal class, matrimony, and the significance of judging individuals based on character rather than looks or status. ‌ Upon its release, Pride & Prejudice quickly became a romantic classic - receiving nominations for numerous prestigious awards, including Academy Awards, BAFTAs (winning one) and Golden Globes - and its cast gained widespread recognition, reports the Express. Let's take a look at the main cast of the film, and what they've been up to since Pride and Prejudice. Keira Knightley (Elizabeth Bennet) Knightley's upcoming roles include starring in the psychological thriller The Woman in Cabin 10 alongside Guy Pearce, and reprising her role in Black Doves Season 2, set to be filmed in early 2025. In addition to acting, she's ventured into production and writing - developing her own projects through Sky Arts and See-Saw Films, authoring children's essays on feminism, and writing a children's book. Knightley also manages to balance her career with family life, opting for roles that enable her to stay close to her daughters. ‌ Her notable honours include two Academy Award nominations for her roles in Pride & Prejudice and The Imitation Game, as well as BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG nominations. She has also received a Laurence Olivier nomination for her work in theatre. Matthew Macfadyen (Mr. Darcy) He initially gained recognition for his role as Tom Quinn in the television series Spooks. More recently, he has garnered international acclaim for his Emmy and Golden Globe-winning portrayal of Tom Wambsgans in the series Succession, which aired from 2018 to 2023. ‌ Following his appearance in Pride and Prejudice, Macfadyen has taken on various roles, including starring as Major Charles Ingram in the 2020 ITV production of Quiz and making an appearance in the 2024 film Deadpool & Wolverine. Additionally, he played the part of MP John Stonehouse in the 2023 production of Stonehouse, alongside his wife, Keeley Hawes. He is slated to star as the spy George Smiley in the upcoming series Legacy of Spies, which is based on the novels by John le Carré. Throughout his career, Macfadyen has been awarded two Emmy Awards, one Golden Globe Award, three BAFTA Awards, and two SAG Awards. Donald Sutherland (Mr. Bennet) After his role in Pride and Prejudice, Sutherland continued to appear in various screen and stage productions, often taking on supporting roles in projects such as The Hunger Games and the Netflix series Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous. Sadly, Sutherland passed away in June 2024 at the age of 88 while under hospice care at the University of Miami hospital, due to complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His passing was met with tributes from the film industry, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who remembered him as "a great Canadian". ‌ Judi Dench (Lady Catherine de Bourgh) She has continued to be active, starring in a variety of roles from Shakespearean dramas to films like Shakespeare in Love and the James Bond series, where she played M, the first woman to hold that role. She has been honoured with numerous awards, including an Academy Award, BAFTA awards, and Olivier awards, and is regarded as one of Britain's finest actresses. Rosamund Pike (Jane Bennet) After major franchises like Jack Reacher and Gone Girl, she received praise and an Academy Award nomination for Gone Girl (2014). She also portrayed Bond villain Miranda Frost, won an Emmy award for her role in the miniseries State of the Union (2019), and is scheduled to make her National Theatre debut in summer 2025, with the play Inter Alia. Brenda Blethyn (Mrs. Bennet) Since Pride and Prejudice, Blethyn has received acclaim (and a BAFTA) for her role in Secrets & Lies, and other notable performances include Robert Redford's A River Runs Through It. On television, she is best known for her role as Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope in the long-running ITV series Vera - which concluded in early 2025. Blethyn continues to support causes close to her heart, particularly cancer charities like Macmillan, and remains a prominent and respected figure in UK screen acting. She was even appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to drama in 2003. Tom Hollander (Mr. Collins) Since then, Hollander has built a diverse and critically acclaimed career, with roles in Gosford Park (2001), In the Loop (2009), and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015). His filmography includes Hanna (2011), About Time (2013), The Night Manager (BAFTA-winning, 2017), and The King's Man (2021). On stage, he bagged the Ian Charleson Prize in 1992 and received Olivier and Tony nominations for Travesties. His television highlights include Rev., which earned him a BAFTA, and Feud: Capote vs. the Swans (2024). Jena Malone (Lydia Bennet) ‌ Before joining Joe Wright's ensemble, Malone had already garnered praise for her performances in Contact (1997), Donnie Darko (2001), and Saved! (2004). Post Pride and Prejudice, Malone's career soared to new heights, particularly through her memorable role as Johanna Mason in The Hunger Games franchise (2013-2015), which introduced her to global mainstream audiences. She also played Rocket in Zack Snyder's cult film Sucker Punch (2011), and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) - although her character (Barbara Gordon) was controversially cut from the theatrical release. Carey Mulligan (Kitty Bennet) Her major breakthrough came just four years after Pride and Prejudice, when she portrayed schoolgirl Jenny Mellor in An Education (2009). This role won her a BAFTA, a Golden Globe nomination, and her first Oscar nod. Since then, Mulligan's illustrious career has seen her star in films such as Drive (2011), Shame (2011), The Great Gatsby (2013), and Promising Young Woman (2020) - which earned her a second Oscar nomination. Most recently, she received her third Academy Award nomination for Maestro (2023). Away from the silver screen, Mulligan is a staunch advocate for social justice and gender equality. She has collaborated with War Child UK and spoken out against industry sexism and the portrayal of women in media. In her personal life, she is a mother of two and has been married to Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons since 2012.

Wales Online

2 hours ago

• Wales Online

I'm a drag queen and there's one thing so many people don't understand

I'm a drag queen and there's one thing so many people don't understand "It's an odd, really crazy time right now" Gigi Spot on why drag is so important ahead of Pride Cymru 2025 (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) A row of wigs in every colour you could imagine, a clothes rail jam packed with sequins and feathers, the floor lined with luminous high heels, fake nails, glitter, jewellery Bet Lynch would be proud of - it could only be a drag queen's closet. This closet belongs to Gigi Spot, a Cardiff-based drag artist whose career began just shy of five years ago when her alter-ego Alex bought her first wig. That wig, now "in bits", is still here in this closet, all part of a journey to the bedazzled Gigi now sat in front of me, with her thick lick of eyeline, purple eyeshadow and silver glitter and a first outing for a new dress, ready for its first big outing this weekend. Gigi is one of the acts at this weekend's Pride Cymru, and when we meet in the build up, her current worry is how she'll cope in the heatwave the weather forecasters are projecting, and who can blame her? Because being Gigi means a thick layer of make-up, bouffant wig, a lycra rainbow dress (plus rhinestones) and not forgetting the heels. You can read all about Pride Cymru, how to get tickets, where to see the parade and who is performing here. For Gigi, Pride isn't just another event, but a chance to show people how inclusive Cardiff is, how inclusive Pride is, and how inclusive drag is. Article continues below Gigi getting ready - she's taught herself how to do make-up (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Gigi was a singer, doing weddings until the night, while watching a drag act she watched on and thought she could do it - and could do it better. And then she bought that first wig. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here . And the rest is history - a history documented in her closet packed with custom made outfits, from her very first dress (a sequinned short number with net underskirt) right through to festive outfits, a burgundy velvet number with Maleficent-style shoulder pads I've ever seen and a floor length, fuschia, feather-trimmed evening gown. She actually never intended to become involved in drag. "You just kind of fall into it. You buy one wig as a joke and you think 'this is going to be fine' and then you get a taste for it," she said. Her first performance was in Cardiff at a charity event. "I've deleted all the photos from it and videos," she laughs. "I do remember people saying you've got something and I should work at it but that was two weeks before the Covid lockdown. "Cut to five months later and I did a proper gig," she said. Her sister taught Alex how to do make-up, but there were mishaps when Gigi started doing her own, including not setting her make-up properly so it ran down her face, mid-set. "It's an evolutionary journey," she cackles. But don't ever think it's ever just about a great dress and some make-up. "Drag is such a craft, there's so many facets to it. You've got to have the hair right, the shape of your body right. The outfits need to be right. And then there's the makeup on top. "You're crafting the jokes that you're writing, that there's so many components to it. There's probably not many art forms have so much going on for just one show," said Gigi. Drag has been around for centuries, and the word 'drag' is believed to have theatrical origins from when the dresses men wore to play female characters would drag along the floor. Now? Now it's so much more. "I am clearly am a drag queen, and proudly so, but I'm completely accepting the drag spectrum now is is very broad," says Gigi. "There is no definition anymore for what drag is just. Drag means something completely different to each person who's performing. "There's drag queens, drag kings. It can be whatever you want it to be, but there's performers that aren't really queens or kings, for more androgynous, non-binary creative expression. ‌ "There's no judgement, you can be whoever you are, perhaps except a serial killer," she laughs. "You can be whoever you are, and you'll be accepted and feel welcome. "I think we're just changing the definition of what it means to be a man or a woman or anything in between. "There is no boundary in drag, we completely open it up. People clearly know I'm a man, but then I'm flouncing around a little bit on stage, so you're blurring the line a bit. ‌ "People respond well to it because you're just completely open and honest. "More and more as the years have gone on, it's really important for drag performers to use their platform not just to have a laugh and a joke and be part of someone's night out but to remind people that this is a community, people are safe here. Gigi's closet is full of custom outfits (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) ‌ "Even though we don't have to, we're paid to be entertainers but I think more and more as it's gone on we use that as a platform just to remind people about community," he said. That doesn't mean it's all about fun, jokes and songs. There have been political controversies, for example, Drag Queen Story Hour UK, founded by Aida H Dee, was met with protests and criticism. You can read that here. "There are groups of society that just don't understand the creativity and the the fun and joy around drag, but those people are never going to go away. ‌ "It's a very small minority of people with backwards views that cause the biggest ruckus, and that I think that's what we see a lot," she said. The ongoing battles of the trans community too have taken their toll. "It's not just my job but my friends. "When I was younger, just being gay was hard, and now these trans people have done nothing other than just decide they want to identify as who they actually are but there's been massive hurdles put up to make them feel unaccepted or not part of society," she said. ‌ That is the anthesis of drag, she admits. "We're there to be completely inclusive. Drag on stage is that everyone can take the piss out of everything, and we all laugh and joke about it because it's that one moment away from the real world but I guess what's upsetting is that when we take our makeup off and we lock the bar up at the end of the night, those people have gone back to a real world, which is not that particularly very nice at the moment. They are our friends or colleagues who work at the bars or on the doors or performing. "There's a lot going on and it just seems like even the politicians aren't particularly on side, so what do we do? And it shouldn't be like that in the UK. It's an odd, really crazy time right now," she said. ‌ Drag has stood the test of time, and will continue to, she believes. "I think prostitutes are the only thing that was going on before drag queens, and even then I think there was some crossover," she laughs. "Drag will always have a place in society that's not going away, and I think history has shown that already. The bars are becoming ever more important, and drag performers are becoming an even more important cornerstone of the community, especially with everything going on. Cardiff has a relatively small drag scene but all are welcome, Gigi said, and drag venues aren't just for the queer community, she says. "They are an open door not just to queer communities, but to other parts of society that just want to come in and have a good time and enjoy themselves and not show judgement. We perform a lot of straight people and that's fine," she said. ‌ She is a proud supporter of Pride Cymru because it's important for Wales to have such a thing. "I think it's important in Wales because we we're separate from the rest of the country. "We still make our own laws and make our own decisions. Having a Pride here is really important for the people of Wales, because we are different things happen differently here. "So even though it's small, it's still a brilliant event and probably has more of a community feel than most Prides," she said, "It's just so important that we don't stop celebrating and protesting". Every year, in Pride month, there are comments which ask why Pride is needed. To that, Gigi says this: "I'd like to think that within our community, our queer community, that we maybe no, we don't need Pride. Because every day is Pride. We're always doing it every night but we're not in our queer community all the time. We're often in the real world and we all face judgement, sometimes insecurity, embarrassment, or, sometimes persecution just for who you are. ‌ "With the stuff that's going on in the media and going through Parliament, government and the Supreme Court is just showing us that Pride is even more important now than it's been in the past, because we thought we were making progress, but it seems to be going backwards a little bit," she said. This year's Pride Cymru will look back at the first march in Cardiff, which took place 40 years ago. "It breaks your hearts that they had to live their lives going through all of this. But we're taking the baton on that they started. You're carrying it forwards because it's still so important," she said. ‌ Asked why anyone should go along to Pride, Gigi said: "We're in a country where we should be aiming for reallycomplete, happy, wholesome society and it's only when everyone in society is given the rights that they deserve to be themselves to to just be the best person they can. "If you can't be yourself, you're going to struggle being the best at your job, being the best at this, that, and the other, because you're being held back. "It's only when everyone is at that level, when we're living in a nice society that our society will be better generally for everyone. Everyone is part of Pride, it's not just the scene. It's important that everyone gets part of it," she said. Article continues below And with that, she declared, "let's get this wig off".

Daily Mail​

2 hours ago

• Daily Mail​

The secret emoji code Gen Z are using to confuse older generations: Youngsters ditch 'mainstream' characters for bizarre alternatives - so, do you know what they mean?

From 'skibidi' to 'rizz', it's safe to say that many members of Generation Z have their own language. Now, it seems that youngsters are also changing the way they use emoji. In an attempt to confuse the older generations, Gen Z are ditching 'mainstream' emoji in favour of bizarre alternatives. 'For the predominantly younger-skewing "chronically online," riding the wave of emerging trends helps forge identity and create distance from the "out-of-touch" older generations,' explained Emojipedia. 'In a culture shaped by brainrot, post-irony, and existential dread, avoiding the mainstream is a badge of honor. 'Creating underground memes and micro-viral moments that distinguish an in-the-know in-group from outsiders can be mini-milestones in establishing a generation's internet identity, leaving others on the outside feeling confused and out of the loop, often intentionally so.' Emojipedia has revealed three of the most unusual alternatives Gen Z are secretly using. So, do you know what these emoji really mean? Wilted rose emoji The broken heart emoji is usually the go-to character to convey sadness. But for Gen Z, the wilted rose has been deemed this emoji's cooler alternative. 'The Wilted Flower emoji, sometimes called the "dead rose" or the "dead flower," was deemed the chosen emoji to convey sadness, replacing the Broken Heart,' explained Emojpedia. 'The trend began in late February 2025, when a series of memes clowning on the overuse of the heartbreak emoji as too mainstream an emblem of performative sadness took root.' However, this alternative has caused much confusion amongst older social media users. Taking to TikTok, one user asked: 'What's up with this rose emoji and why is everyone using it? I'm seeing it way more and more recently - I don't get it at all.' Another said: 'Clearly somebody in the tech space has it out for me. That can be the only explanation for why that wilted rose emoji is being used so much right now.' One of the most bizarre alternatives being used by Gen Z is the chair emoji. Instead of symbolising furniture, the chair is used in place of the laughing emoji Chair emoji One of the most bizarre alternatives being used by Gen Z is the chair emoji. Instead of symbolising furniture, the chair is used in place of the laughing emoji. This trend dates back to 2021, when TikToker Anthony Mai proposed spamming KSI with the chair emoji as a stand-in for the classic Crying Laughing Face emoji. 'Within the following days, the chair-for-laughter joke had spread like wildfire across social media, with Chair emojis popping up all over TikTok video comments and as the subjects of videos themselves, confusing much of the internet at large,' Emojipedia said. Like the wilted flower emoji, the chair's proliferation has sparked confusion among people who haven't seen Mr Mai's video. 'Why is everyone using the chair emoji as laughing emoji?' one user questioned. Another added: 'Can someone pls explain why everyone keeps putting CHAIR EMOJIS? I'm so confused.' Aerial tramway emoji The aerial tramway emoji is one of the least-used characters. And that's exactly why it has become popular among Gen Z - who are using it instead of the laughing emoji. Inspired by Anthony Mai, YouTuber John Casterline posted a video urging people to use the aerial tramway as a replacement for the Crying Laughing Face. 'I came up with a plan where we can make this emoji one of the most used emojis, at least on YouTube,' he explained in the video. 'It's pretty simple. Instead of using laughing emojis from now on replace it with this. 'And if someone doesn't know why you're doing it, don't tell them. 'Let's just confuse every person who hasn't seen this video.' Despite only being posted one month ago, Mr Casterline's video has already wracked up over six million views - with the aerial tramway emoji flooding YouTube. 'The aerial-tramway-for-laughter meme has proven again that the seemingly meaningless Gen Z humor in its manifestation as the emoji replacement paradigm meme resonates with at least some users, time after time,' Emojipedia said.