International Mister Leather (IML) is one of the world’s largest gatherings of leathermen and BDSM aficionados. Held every Memorial Day weekend in Chicago, IML spans several days and includes the International Mister Leather competition in addition to other events, such as workshops, socials, themed dance parties and a leather vendor market.

Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend is a three-day long party and event with participants that now number in the thousands. The heart of the weekend is the historic leather formal Saturday evening cocktail social, Leather Cocktails.

LLC is an organization dedicated to furthering the education of leadership in the kink and alternative communities. LLC produces an annual conference that allows leaders to elevate their leadership practice and deepen connections through camaraderie, networking, education, and sharing of resources.

More hardcore than its big brother, September’s Folsom Street Fair, Up Your Alley, or Dore Alley is a fetish market not for the faint of heart! Enjoy a weekend of fetish parties and circuit events in the lead up to the final Sunday of the month, when the fair comes to life and fetish lovers unite.

Folsom Street is committed to cultivating a safe, open, and inclusive environment for the kink, leather, and alternative sexuality communities while centering equity for BIPOC and LGBTQA2I+ people in our work.

BLACKOUT, started by ONYX in 1995, is an inclusive, sex-positive leather anniversary weekend. It features education, awards, meetings, and social events, focusing on intersectionality and celebrating diversity. BLACKOUT 30 "Homecoming" is in Chicago, October 16-19, 2025.