Although they’ve taken on varying forms over the decades, Milwaukee has hosted celebrations of the gay community since 1974, when 350 people attended the Gay People's Union Ball.

Other dances and parties followed in the years to come, but it wasn’t until 1988 that the first official events were hosted by the Milwaukee Lesbian/Gay Pride Committee. Several hundred people participated in the week-long celebration, which included a softball tournament at Mitchell Park, picnic, formal ball, and film festival.

In June 1989, the MLGPC organized a march from Walker's Point to a rally in Cathedral Square.

Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist addressed the crowd of 1000, affirming, “We are proud of who you are.” By the end of the day, religious organizations threatened Norquist with a recall effort, and the MLGPC rally led the local news. Milwaukee’s LGBT community would no longer allow themselves to be ignored.

In the early 90s, the rally moved to Juneau Park along the lakefront to accommodate the growing crowds. Entertainment and food were added, creating a festival atmosphere.

In 1994, the original MLGPC was dissolved and the new PrideFest was incorporated. The festival moved to Veterans Park for two days of activities featuring exhibits, three stages, and dozens of craftspeople and vendors. “Light Up the Sky with Pride” was added to the line-up in 1995, making PrideFest the first Pride event in the nation to host its own fireworks display.

The Gay People's Union was the first organization in Milwaukee to host an event that had Pride appeal, with over 350 people attending the GPU Ball in 1974. Other dances and parties were hosted in the years that followed, but it wasn't until after the 1987 March on Washington that the Pride Movement took a strong hold in Milwaukee.

The first official Pride events were hosted by the Milwaukee Lesbian/Gay Pride Committee in 1988, complete with a softball tournament and picnic at Mitchell Park, a formal ball, town hall meeting with elected officials and a film festival. Several hundred people participated in the week-long events.

In June 1989, the MLGPC organized a march and approximately 500 sign-carrying people walked the two miles from the Walker's Point bar district to Cathedral Square for a rally where another 500 people had gathered. This particular event generated a great deal of controversy in the City of Milwaukee, mainly because the proclamation issued by Mayor John Norquist ended with the words, "We are proud of who you are."