Condoms, coconuts and kitsch for Kamala at quirky ‘DemPalooza’
Free "F--- Project 2025" condoms and stickers at the Voters of Tomorrow booth at DemPalooza in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024. (Photo: Matt Laslo/Raw Story)
While politics is surely in the air at this mini indoor festival that Democratic brass is throwing for delegates, attendees here can get everything from local tofu to a $10,000 sculpture.
"The hippest, hottest, most exclusive patches you won’t find anywhere else!" — as seen at DemPalooza in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024. (Photo: Matt Laslo/Raw Story)
In many ways, DemPlooza is a mirror into contemporary Democratic Party identity politics: Everyone and, seemingly, anything is welcome, except a discernible theme.
That seems to be why the “Breaking the Taboo: Atheists and Humanists in Elected Office” booth is a mere two booths and a couple aisles away from the expansive, if empty, “Evangelicals for Harris” space here at Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center —- roughly five miles east at the United Center, where prime time festivities are taking place.
While there are union, climate, children’s literacy, abortion rights and D.C. statehood advocate booths here, , to name a few, visitors can also score a $28 candle, a $24.95 White House Historical Association holiday ornament, locally sourced honey, vintage sneakers, a tuxedo and, of course, anti-Trump T-shirts.
The Planned Parenthood booth at DemPlooza in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024. (Photo: Matt Laslo/Raw Story)
Being a political convention, there are also buttons, pins and patches galore, including one locally run booth — with offerings like “savage,” “hustle,” “bossy” and even “plant slayer” —- that promises “the hippest, hottest, most exclusive patches you won’t find anywhere else!”
DemPalooza at Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center didn't attract many people on Aug. 19, 2024, as the Democratic National Convention kicked off. (Photo: Matt Laslo/Raw Story)
On Monday, the first day of the Democratic National Convention, there weren’t many visitors to DemPalooza — which it seems is something the party doesn’t want to talk about.
The Democratic National Convention press office told Raw Story to “direct your inquiry to the Democratic National Committee,” which did not respond to a request for comment.
The Dandy Kingzman / Paul Hudson booth at DemPlooza in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024. (Photo: Matt Laslo/Raw Story)
Unfazed by crowd sizes, vendors were smiling while passing out neon green “gun safety is brat” bracelets, “the rent is too damn high” stickers and “we decide” chapstick from Planned Parenthood.
While the Harris-Walz campaign, the Democratic Party and advocacy organizations are signing up and training as many volunteers as they can, parts of the expansive, concrete clad convention hall feels more like a flea market than a political convention.
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If a delegate needs it, they can also score a pink leotard.
Or they can snag a colorful safari fedora.
Earrings, bracelets (including stations to make your own), necklaces and other accessories are everywhere.
Attendees can likewise click a selfie with a cardboard cutout of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Kamala Harris cardboard cutout at DemPlooza in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024. (Photo: Matt Laslo/Raw Story)
And, of course, the Harris campaign set up The Coconut Club, which seems to be a workspace for the campaign’s young staffers.
The Coconut Club as seen in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024, pop-up promises "She’s so bratwurst" on its menu, yet they don’t sell brats. (Photo: Matt Laslo/Raw Story)
While Harris is the Democratic Party’s nominee, Chicago is home to former President Barack Obama, whose image is splashed on art, tees, posters and buttons.
Democrats are hoping Harris follows Obama’s footsteps, becoming in the process the first Black female president.
Art of Chicago son Barack Obama and other Black icons were also for sale at DemPlooza in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024. (Photo: Matt Laslo/Raw Story)
For inspiration, Obama’s old shoes are on display at DemPalooza.
Shoes worn by former presidents Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and many more were on display at DemPalooza in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024. (Photo: Matt Laslo/Raw Story)
They sit alongside other displays of historical footwear — shoes worn by Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, to name a few.
Robert Rios, U.S. Virgin Islands delegate. (Photo by Alexandria Jacobson/Raw Story)
Carol Blood and Hannah Wroblewski of the Nebraska delegation. (Photo by Alexandria Jacobson/Raw Story)
Keri Thompson and Leslie Templeton of the Massachusetts delegation. (Photo by Alexandria Jacobson/Raw Story)
Beth Davidson, New York delegate. (Photo by Alexandria Jacobson/Raw Story)
John Gumbs, Jr. of the U.S. Virgin Islands delegation. (Photo by Alexandria Jacobson/Raw Story)
Crystal Martinez, California delegate (Photo by Alexandria Jacobson/Raw Story)
Damien Nichols of the “Kennedy Across America Tour” outside of the Democratic National Convention. (Photo by Alexandria Jacobson/Raw Story)
Vanessa Eggert passes out a flyer in support of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. near the United Center (Photo by Alexandria Jacobson/Raw Story)
Police confront pro-Palestinian protesters in downtown Chicago on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Jordan Green / 
Trump supporters rioting at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Sebastian Portillo/Shutterstock)
An archive of Alex Bruesewitz's tweets on Jan. 6, 2021 shows him calling on Trump's supporters to come to the Capitol.Courtesy J6 Capitol Insurrection database
Greater Union Baptist Church near the United Center has barricades and fencing around it on Aug. 18, 2024, due to the Democratic National Convention. (Photo by Dave Levinthal/Raw Story)
John Booras, Republican candidate for U.S. House Illinois District 3 and tax attorney, at the Billy Goat Tavern in Wrigleyville for a Chicago Republicans event on Aug. 12. (Photo by Alexandria Jacobson/Raw Story)
Ken Ashner walks by a street closure in his neighborhood on Aug. 18, 2024. (Photo by Alexandria Jacobson/Raw Story)
A long line of delegates and others who abandoned protest-delayed buses make their way to the United Center in Chicago, where the Democratic National Convention begins today, Aug. 19, 2024. (Alexandria Jacobson / Raw Story) 
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell (left) on Aug. 19, 2024, before a press conference at Trump Tower in Chicago. (Photo by Alexandria Jacobson/Raw Story)