Even though June is LGBTQ+ Pride month everywhere on the planet, the celebrations across Canada are far from over. Indeed, people from rainbow communities continue to come together and travel from coast to coast to find each other. Here are the most enticing festivities for the rest of the summer…and the year.
Posted at 11:30 a.m.
Acadie Love (July 14 to 17)
PHOTO JULIE D’AMOUR-LÉGER, PROVIDED BY CANADA PRIDE
Acadie Love will take place from July 14 to 17.
If you take advantage of the Acadian Pride to discover one of the most beautiful regions of the country, you will be entitled to a colorful cultural program in the halls of Caraquet: an evening of humor with local pride Coco Béliveau and Anabelle Hébert, recording from the podcast Between 2 lips drags Mona de Grenoble and Rainbow, the only stop in the Atlantic for the show creatures by Rita Baga, dance evenings led by Mademoiselle DJ and DJ Matt, preview of the film Love letter to Léopold Foulema tribute by Acadian filmmaker Renée Blanchar to this extraordinary artist, etc.
Halifax Pride Festival (July 14-24)
PHOTO SCOTT MUNN, SUPPLIED BY CANADA PRIDE
The Halifax Pride Festival will take place July 14-24.
Why not continue your journey through the Maritimes by heading to Nova Scotia’s capital? On the program: drag dancing lessons, graduation of young queers, football training with the Canadian Football League, BBQ in honor of the organization Rainbow Railroad which helps LGBTQ+ refugees around the world, yoga session of Pride, workshop on the realities of Indigenous people two spiritsa mix of drag and professional wrestling, as well as a multitude of comedy shows, drag shows and dance parties.
Vancouver Pride Festival (July 21 to 1er august)
PHOTO VISION EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY, PROVIDED BY CANADA PRIDE
The Vancouver Pride Festival also happens on the beach!
In Vancouver, we celebrate in the streets and… on the beach! Home to the largest parade in Western Canada, BC’s metropolis will see the procession set off on July 31, at the corner of Robson and Thurlow streets in the heart of downtown, before heading to Sunset Beach , one of the most popular in the city. Musical comedy We Will Rock You, which spotlights queer icon Freddie Mercury and the music of Queen, will be presented at the Under the Stars Theater in beautiful Stanley Park. Obviously, many festivities will be organized in Davie Street.
Montreal Pride Festival (1er to August 7)
PHOTO ANDRÉ BILODEAU, PROVIDED BY CANADA PRIDE
The metropolis will kick off the month of August to the rhythm of the Montreal Pride Festival.
Many people living outside Montreal and even from the North American continent descend on the Quebec metropolis each year during Fierté. Normal, because it is one of the biggest queer celebrations on the planet! For the second consecutive year, it is on the Esplanade of the Olympic Park that the party will be held with the presence of international superstars (Pabllo Vittar, Alok), Quebec stars (Diane Dufresne, Ariane Moffatt, Pierre Kwenders, Calamine, Sarahmée ) and the best drags from here. There are also several conferences, a day of community organizations and much more.
Quebec City Rainbow Party (1er to September 4)
PHOTO PROVIDED BY PRIDE CANDA
The 18e Rainbow Party will take place from 1er to September 4
The Old Capital is not left out with the 18e Rainbow Party, which will thrill Quebec’s queer communities during Labor Day weekend. The official program will be unveiled on August 11, but we can already say that Pride will be highlighted by music, drag and comedy shows at Place d’Youville, as well as a family day with inflatable games, make-up and the presence of very colorful characters.
Whistler Pride and Ski Festival (January 22-29, 2023)
PHOTO MIKE CRANE, PROVIDED BY CANADA PRIDE
The Whistler Pride and Ski Festival rhymes skiing and Pride.
Pride followers are used to partaking in the parade, shows, parties and other drag brunches when the mercury challenges their resistance to the heat, but why not celebrate the beauties of sexual diversity and plurality genres in the middle of winter? Next January, Whistler — which hosted the first Pride House in Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games history in 2010 — will mark 30 years of honoring queer communities with a mix of skiing, snowboarding and memorable evenings!
Victoria Pride Festival (end of June 2023)
PHOTO BY DEDDEDA STEMLER, PROVIDED BY PRIDE CANADA
The Victoria Pride Festival offers a special place to our canine friends.
If you’re planning your getaways a year in advance, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to celebrating Pride in June: gargantuan celebrations in Toronto, unique festivities in Kelowna, British Columbia, those in Kingston, Ontario, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, or Edmonton, Alberta. That said, we draw your attention to those in Victoria, a few hours by ferry from Vancouver. In addition to the festive evenings on the program and the traditional parade, we note the Big Gay Dog Walk, a day during which our canine friends parade in their best finery in MacDonald Park. Ten points for originality!