where the gay people will be in march.
Your March 2025 west suburban Chicago queer events calendar has arrived.
Queering the Burbs is a distillation of pop culture, politics and queerness published twice weekly by Joe Erbentraut. If you like what you see, please consider subscribing (many posts are free!), liking or sharing this piece. Order Joe’s new zine, Issue #01, here.
As I write this, the snow that fell earlier this month has finally almost fully thawed, and the temperature is above 50 degrees. I’ve even seen a person or two walk past my window wearing shorts. Shorts in February! This seems to happen every year now and yet I’m still somehow still surprised each time.
What I’m trying to say here is that there are officially warmer, brighter days ahead. Though false spring is a very real thing, it does seem as though we’ve made it through the worst of the winter.
To get everyone even further hyped, there’s a lot of great queer shit going on this coming month, and this month’s roundup even includes events taking place in ‘burbs as far flung as Shorewood and Woodbridge. And there’s really no better feeling right now given the many horrors persisting around us than to spend time in a room full of queer and trans folks.
If I’m missing anything below—or if you’re the organizer behind any of these events and you’d prefer that they not appear here for whatever reason—please reach out by emailing me at queeringtheburbszine@gmail.com or using the button below.
Saturday, March 1 (7 p.m.): Wisconsin Drag Takeover
Montell Infiniti Ross, Gina D’Licious, and Taysha Montenegro are on the lineup for this drag show in downtown Elgin. Miss Moscato hosts. Tickets available for $20 in advance or $25 at the door.
Martini Room, 161 E. Chicago St., Elgin
Sunday, March 2 (11:30 a.m.): Let’s Cosplay Nerdy Queer Variety Show
Jolene Jett is hosting this all-ages event, which will feature Taco Minaj, Candi Forest, Azula Lynn, and Portia. You can also come in your own cosplay to participate in a contest. Tickets cost $15 at the door (16+) or $5 if you’re under 15.
Critical Grind Board Game Cafe, 852 Sharp Dr. #L, Shorewood
Monday, March 3 (6:30 p.m.): Cheers, Queers!
Belong: Fox Valley’s popular monthly meetup for queer adults and allies brings its March 2025 edition to St. Charles.
Alter Brewing + Kitchen, 12 S. 1st St., St. Charles
Tuesday, March 4 (6 p.m.): DeKalb Pop-Up Gay Bar
This new, informal queer meetup launched in February and is returning next month.
Class VI, 214 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb
Friday, March 7 (7 p.m.): Rainbow Roundup
The casual (18+) monthly get-together for young LGBTQ+ adults and allies hosted by Belong: Fox Valley is taking place in Batavia in March. Go get yourself a Chicago-style glizzy and some cheese fries.
Portillo’s, 531 N. Randall Rd., Batavia
Tuesday, March 11 (7 p.m.): Outspoken LGBTQ+ Storytelling
This queer storytelling event will raise funds for Youth Outlook. Doors open at 5 p.m. Storytellers for this edition include Ken Mejia Beal, Kathy Doud, Dani Keil, Archy Jamjun, Leo Monts, and Michael Williams.
Skeleton Key Brewery, 8102 Lemont Rd. #300, Woodbridge
Saturday, March 15 (11 a.m.): Queer Meetup
This gorgeous space in Sycamore also hosts an informal meetup for queer folks and allies in the far western suburbs the third Saturday of every month.
The Greenhouse, 265 W. Peace Rd., Suite 108, Sycamore
Saturday, March 8 (1 p.m): Coffee & CommuniTEA
The Aurora LGBTQ Advisory Board is hosting its regular casual meetup at the vibe-y downtown Aurora hotspot.
Society 57, 100 S. River St., Aurora
Saturday, March 8 (3 p.m.): PRIDE’s Zine Craft Workshop
The PRIDE Committee of the Sycamore UMC is putting on this free workshop offering all the supplies and guidance you could need to create your own eight-page zine. All ages are welcomed, and light snacks will be provided.
Sycamore United Methodist Church, 160 Johnson Ave., Sycamore
Monday, March 17 (6 p.m.): Queer Coloring
The third Monday of every month is a free queer coloring meetup at this Shorewood coffee shop, with coloring books, crayons, and colored pencils provided.
This venue also hosts many other queer and queer-friendly events throughout each month, so be sure to check out their website above to learn more.
Critical Grind Board Game Cafe, 852 Sharp Dr. #L, Shorewood
Saturday, March 22 (10 a.m.): Pride Playgroup
The March edition of Belong: Fox Valley’s monthly meetup for LGBTQ+ families and allies comes to St. Charles.
St. Charles Public Library, 1 S. 6th St., St. Charles
Thursday, March 27 (7 p.m.): Drag Me to Dinner: Jenni Rivera vs. Paquita La del Barrio
The March edition of El Jefe’s monthly dinner-centric drag event will feature the music of two late great Mexican music icons. Paquita La del Barrio passed away earlier this month, and you can see the great diva in action in the clip below.
El Jefe - Lena y Mar, 1271 N. Lake St., Aurora
Saturday, March 29 (11 a.m.): Drag Me to Brunch: ABBA Tribute
El Jefe’s latest drag brunch extravaganza pays tribute to Swedish disco pop icons ABBA in its March edition. Tickets cost $25 and you’ll want to secure them ASAP because this drag brunch almost always sells out in advance.
El Jefe - Lena y Mar, 1271 N. Lake St., Aurora
Saturday, March 29 (12 p.m.): Trans-farm-ation
Ramshackle Farm and Woodstock Pride are putting on the 2025 edition of Trans-farm-ation, a punk celebration of trans and queer folks, all taking place inside a pole barn. The musical lineup includes Rat Bath, Pink Squeeze, Slap Bunt, Bull Heather + the Bloodflowers, Blasfemme, and Sparkling Urbana. Live music goes from 1-10 p.m. and The Grilled Cheese Experiment will be serving food from 1-4 p.m. Tickets cost $40 and are available here. All proceeds benefit Gender Affirming Mutual Aid in McHenry County.
Ramshackle Farm, 5116 Irish Ln., Harvard
Looking for queer events in Chicago? Check out Chicago Social Butterflies. Highlights next month include Darling Squire’s Theytriarch show at Steppenwolf (March 1), The Grelley Duvall Show at Chopin Theatre (March 3-16), Meg Stalter’s comedy tour arriving at the Vic (March 8), and Dylan Mulvaney’s Chicago Humanities Festival appearance at The Den Theatre (March 9).
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SONG OF THE RIGHT-NOW
I was listening to queer Pakistani singer and composer Arooj Aftab’s absolutely stunning latest album, Night Reign, while working on an edit test for a job I’m interviewing for (fingers crossed). One particular song—“Bolo Na,” featuring Moor Mother and Joel Ross—really hit me over the head and leapt directly into my soul in a way that it really hadn’t on previous listens. Love it when that happens. It’s sexy, sad, and a little raw in the best way. Enjoy.
I want to believe
I want to understand what I am feeling
Is it love? Was it love?
Love the monthly queer suburban event calendar!