Gay Pride Vancouver brings together members of the LGBTQ community and their allies to celebrate the unique spirit and culture of the rainbow community by producing quality, inclusive events including the annual Pride Parade. Pride celebrations in Vancouver kicked off as early as 1973, when the Gay Alliance Toward Equality, often referred to as GATE, organized a special picnic and art exhibit in Ceperley Park. This iconic event set the precedence for Gay Pride Vancouver, and in 1978, the city celebrated its very first Pride Parade. What initially started as a low-key demonstration covering just one side of the street in 1978, has now evolved into a lively, outspoken, and larger than life event which colors the city streets each year.
As a whole, Canada is an extremely LGBTQ-friendly country, having legalized gay marriage as far back as 2005. It comes as no surprise then that its annual pride celebrations go off. The event includes a range of pride-related entertainment, with the highlight arguably being the Pride Parade. This is the largest Pride Parade in Western Canada, and one of the biggest in North America, welcoming roughly 150 entries. The procession starts at 12 noon at the intersection of Robson and Thurlow Street, then travels west along Robson, before finishing up at the Sunset Beach Festival site.
Along with the Pride Parade, you can look forward to a host of different events scattered throughout the city, including Picnic in the Park, Davie Street Pride Party, and the popular Sunset Beach Festival. As the event usually takes place towards the end of July, you can also expect beautiful warm weather to celebrate your pride in.
For full details on Vancouver Pride 2024, be sure to check out the official event program. Happy Pride!