Here’s what you need to know about the Victoria Pride Parade happening this weekend

Everyone’s favourite time of year is back!

The highly anticipated Victoria Pride Parade and Festival are returning this Sunday, July 12th.

The celebrations represent a joyous time of year for queer folx, allies and everyone who wants to show up and support their 2SLGBTQI+ neighbours.

All over the world, summer Pride celebrations take place to celebrate and show solidarity for the queer community.

In Victoria, the Pride festivities have a long and storied history.

The first Pride parade in Victoria was held in 1994; however, the first Victoria Gay Pride Week dates all the way back to 1981.

The mayor at the time denied the organizing group’s application, at the time calling it “inappropriate.” The events took place anyway, and the week of festivities ended with the ‘Stonewall Tea Dance.’

While times have changed since those early parades and celebrations, the mission has stayed consistent.

At Victoria Pride celebrations, being inclusive is paramount and love is love, period.

The celebrations are a hoot, and everyone is welcome. The only request is that festival and parade go-ers are respectful and accepting.

The Victoria Pride Festival will feature some down-right fabulous costumes, drag kings and queens aplenty, food trucks, queer and ally vendors, an alcoholic and non-alcoholic bar, a low sensory Chill Zone, a kid’s area and so much more.

The Parade will feature much of the same, with dozens of floats from local businesses and organizations and an expected 80,000 spectators.

This year, the parade will start at 11 a.m. at the corner of Government Street and Johnson Street, then head down to Wharf Street, where it will follow the waterfront until Belleville Street, before turning on Menzies Street and ending on Superior Street.

From there, the crowd will continue on to MacDonald Park for the Pride Festival.

Pride festivities in Victoria started this year with the annual Memorial Drag Ball Game, which took place on July 1st at Vic West Park.

The Big Gay Dog Walk and Pride in the Word were also put on by the Victoria Pride Society this year, with many non-official Pride events taking place throughout June and July.

Grab your friends, loved ones, chosen family and anyone who oozes positivity and head down to the Pride events this weekend!

Victoria Pride Parade

• Where: 
  • Parade – Johnson Street and Government Street to Superior Street
  • Festival – MacDonald Park, 212 Niagara Street
• When: Sunday, July 12th – Both events start at 11 a.m.