About The Pride Ball

FashionBar, in partnership with Life Is Work, invites you to The Pride Ball, a visual celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community and a formal evening dedicated to identity, resilience, and self-expression. This annual celebration brings together fashion, music, performance, and community recognition in an elevated gala setting benefiting Life Is Work, an organization empowering communities through supportive services.

Guests are encouraged to arrive in formal, fashion-forward attire appropriate for a red carpet gala and celebrate authenticity, visibility, and the power of community.

Program Highlights
-Curated runway presentations featuring emerging and established designers
–Electrifying music by Ariana DJ, Chicago-based transgender DJ, model, and entrepreneur
–Live performances including ballroom, voguing, and curated artistic talent.
–Catering with light bites and a cash bar

Award Ceremony at 7:45 PM recognizing individuals and organizations advancing LGBTQIA+ visibility and advocacy.

A Celebration Rooted in Resistance
The Pride Ball is more than a glamorous evening—it is a tribute to the legacy of LGBTQIA+ resilience. The spirit of this event is rooted in the Stonewall Riots of 1969, when courageous figures such as Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera stood against police brutality and systemic oppression. Their actions ignited a global movement and helped shape the modern fight for equality and visibility.

The Pride Ball: Visibility. Identity. Liberation.
Join us for a visual celebration of inclusivity that welcomes all identities—Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and allies—for an unforgettable evening of fashion, performance, and community. Held in the heart of Chicago on the Magnificent Mile, The Pride Ball transforms Water Tower Place into a space of joy, remembrance, and unity.

Dual Impact: Support The Pride Ball & Life Is Work

By becoming a sponsor, your support extends beyond the event — it directly benefits Life Is Work, our nonprofit benefactor. Life Is Work is a Chicago-based LGBTQ-led organization dedicated to uplifting transgender and gender nonconforming individuals through workforce development, housing support, and community advocacy. Proceeds from The Pride Ball will go toward supporting Life Is Work’s mission to advance equity, dignity, and opportunity for marginalized communities.