Five LGBTQ2s+ pride events to attend this July, from dog walks to drag in the park
Photo by Colin Smith.
Pride month might be coming to an end, but you can still celebrate with these five LGBTQ2s+ pride-themed events in Victoria this July!
Memorial Drag Ball Game
A community favourite, the Drag Ball Game began in 1993 during the AIDS epidemic to honour the lives of those lost with a baseball game played in drag. In the 30+ years since its creation, the game has grown in popularity, drawing up to 1 000 spectators annually. This free event will be held on July 1 at 12:00 p.m. in Vic West Park.
Big Gay Dog Walk
Celebrate pride with the Big Gay Dog Walk around the Gorge Waterway on July 3 at 5:30 p.m. in Banfield Park. Before the walk, there will be a dog costume contest and dog trick competition. There will also be food trucks and vendors in the park. They have even created a special memorial area to commemorate departed pets.
Pride in the Word
Join Victoria Pride Society on July 5 for the largest pride literary event in Canada. It features various LGBTQ2s+ writers and presenters, including Kahsenniyo, a multi-disciplinary artist from the Mohawk Nation Wolf Clan, and Lindsay Herriot, adjunct assistant professor at UVic. Doors open at 6:30pm at the Victoria Conference Centre and tickets are pay what you can, with a suggested donation of $10–$40.
Pride Parade
The annual parade is on July 7 at 11:00 a.m. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Victoria Pride Parade, which was first held in June 1994. Indigenous and Two-Spirit guests of honour, as well as guests of honour from the Songhees Nation, will open the parade at Fisgard and Douglas. Is it your first pride? Find “My First Pride” at Fisgard and Douglas before the parade and join a “People-powered contingent to help celebrate and connect new community members and their supporters.”
Festival in the Park
After the Pride Parade, visit the festival from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in McDonald Park. There will be over 130 vendors, a large food court, a bar, and a sober bar (which will offer non-alcoholic drinks and mocktails). There will also be entertainment, including drag artists Coco Klein, Ella Lamoureux, and Shelita Cox, owner of Victoria’s Drag Sunday Productions. The grounds open at 11:00 a.m. and entertainment starts at 1:00 p.m. Trust us, you don’t want to miss it!
