Parallel Play is a grassroots community organization that seeks to center the joy and liberation of COVID-conscious LGBTQIA+, immunocompromised and disabled individuals, and BIPOC through mutual aid, supply drives, PPE distribution pop-ups, and collaborative arts partnerships. We do this by hosting in-person and virtual events (on our community Discord server) that foster connection and build networks of care within our community.

In April of 2024, Parallel Play's founder Anna De Ocampo Kain launched Dilly Dally, a mask-required, quarterly mixer for COVID-cautious queers (and allies). After 100+ tickets immediately sold, it became very apparent there was a huge demand for these safer spaces for the still-COVIDing community. An advisory group of volunteers and organizers came together, forming Parallel Play as a community-run non-profit organization in June 2024. We are operated by our core team of organizers and an 11-person board of directors, which is made up by majority BIPOC, queer, and disabled individuals who comprise our event, accessibility, and finance teams.

Each Dilly Dally mixer varies a bit, with activities ranging from karaoke and dance parties to variety shows and "speed friend-ing." We strive to create safe, sensory-friendly spaces and, since July 2024, have hosted our mixers in wheelchair-accessible venues. We use a multi-layered approach to COVID-precautions, such as: (1) requiring and distributing free, high-quality respirators; (2) using HEPA and/or Far UVC air purifiers; (3) having guests rapid test for COVID (provided by Parallel Play for free as of 2025); (4) opening windows and/or doors; (5) and, when possible, utilizing outdoor spaces. For neighbors who are not able to join us in-person, our Discord community offers a virtual third-space, and we typically livestream our events to Discord or Youtube whenever possible.

Parallel Play has sold-out every single mask-required event we have hosted (in venues that accommodate between 40 and 200 people) in this first year since our formation, including crafting nights, a Halloween variety show, beachside open mic, a garden drag show, and more. Our virtual Dilly Dally events on Discord have included Jackbox games, Tarot readings, open mic presentations, social voice and text chats, and a sensory break room, accommodating up to 100 users at a time. We have hosted over 550 people across these events since April of 2024. 

All of our events have sliding scale tickets, ranging between $0 and $30, as we never want ticket cost to be a barrier to attending a Dilly Dally. Typically, about half or more of the RSVP's are free tickets. Our events often include in-person, free-will contributions to the Dilly Dally Solidarity Fund, which is split between Parallel Play towards the cost of free/subsidized tickets, a co-host organization or the venue, and Palestinian Family Relief through Rebirth Garments, who is in direct contact with families in Gaza. In the weeks following our events, Parallel Play's volunteer finance team typically releases a transparency post or stories on Instagram with itemized expenses and Venmo receipts of the mutual aid to Palestinian Families. Our team is in the process of compiling a report to account for October 2024 - March 2025, which we anticipate will be available to view in early April.

Now more than ever, it’s crucial for the community to stay connected and to take care of each other. There’s a lot of amazing Parallel Play events on the horizon, both in person and online, and we look forward to bringing our community together for them!

2025 Anticipated Calendar

Tentative Upcoming Mask-Required & Virtual Events:

• Saturday 3/16 - Virtual Mix & Mingle Dilly Dally on the Parallel Play Discord Server

• Sunday 3/23 - Mutualism x Dilly Dally mask-required Dance Party (SOLD OUT - join waitlist)

• Saturday 3/29, 4-7 pm @ Center on Halsted - Rapid Test & Respirator Distribution Karaoke Pop-up (with free masked chosen family portraits)

• Saturday 4/12 , 4-7 pm @ Center on Halsted - Clothing Swap for ALL genders & sizes, co-host: Fat Friends of Chicago

• Details coming soon! MAY - Virtual Dilly Dally - Accessible Magic & Healing Spaces

• Save the date! Saturday 6/14 - Pride Month Mask-erade Ball / Queer Prom

• Details coming soon! JULY - Virtual Dilly Dally, celebrating Disability Pride Month

• Details coming soon! AUGUST - Dilly Dally Drag Show

• Details coming soon! SEPTEMBER - Outdoor Music Festival featuring COVID-cautious Artists - co-host: Save The Night Chicago

• Save the date! Saturday 11/1, evening - Halloween Dilly Dally 2.0 @ Haymarket House

We can’t wait to Dilly Dally with you soon!

Stay up to date by joining our mailing list and following Parallel Play on Instagram!

Parallel Play Chicago is a non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. All donations are fully tax deductible.