#ChooseYourPride – Vancouver Pride Plans A Busy Summer Festival!

Vancouver Pride Society (VPS) has announced its full schedule for the 2021 #ChooseYourPride celebrations from July 3 to August 3, 2021, with tickets going on sale Monday June 28th, 2021 at 10am.

While there may not be a parade, VPS is adapting for a hybrid pride season of virtual and in-person events. One of the ?rst in-person Summer festivals as BC reopens, a pandemic-friendly VanPrideFest will take place at Jonathan Rogers Park in  Mount Pleasant from July 30–August 1, 2021. Acknowledging that Pride doesn’t look the same for everyone, the Fest features a series of free open-air programming with community partners offering ten different time slots dedicated to the speci?cities of the local 2SLGBTQAI+ community. The event is free but registration is required so organizers are able to comply with provincial public health orders.

“It was important to us to create celebrations that everybody can participate in, and although we have had to make the incredibly heartbreaking decision not to go ahead with our iconic Parade, we are excited to launch our hybrid season of festivities including our digital Decentralized Parade,” says Andrea Arnot, Executive Director of Vancouver Pride. “We are hoping that our Pride Lounges, VanPrideFest, and Pride Art Walk, combined with 21 digital events such as our VanPride Classroom Series, and Pride Summer Series, amongst others will offer something for everyone.”

For the ?rst time this year, organizers are bringing a series of COVID-safe Pride Lounges to Vancouver Downtown, which will pop across from Jim Deva Plaza, Stanley Park Brewpub, and šx??? ?n?q Xwtl’e7én? Square at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Attendees will be able to book a time slot for up to six people within their bubble in advance and enjoy drinks under the summer sky with lounge-style entertainment.

Due to provincial COVID-19 Public Health Orders, Vancouver Pride has had to cancel its in-person Pride Parade extravaganza, which usually draws people from all over the country. Instead, the organization will be hosting a digital Decentralized Pride Parade Broadcast on August 1, 2021, encouraging viewers to celebrate with individual gatherings to take up space all around the city and connect with their communities. Whether that means having a picnic in the park, dressing up in Pride gear, having lunch on a patio, or marching with their loved ones down the street, this celebration is about being loud and proud taking over the city for the day. The broadcast will include pre-recorded videos from Vancouver Pride’s community partners and live reporters in multiple locations. In addition, participants who post about their individual celebrations, using #VanPride will have the chance to be featured in Vancouver Pride’s Decentralized Parade and win prizes.

Some of the other highlights from the Vancouver Pride 2021 line-up include:

Pride Summer Series: Online July 16 + 23, 2021 starting at 6 PM PST

VPS presents the Pride Summer Series of online concerts in partnership with Fido and Hubcast, July 16 and 23, 2021. The concerts will include performances by Romeo Ryu Reyes, Parlour Panther, Old Soul Rebel, Strange Breed, The Pack A.D., and Matthew Presidente.

Pride Art Walk: Various Locations, July 19–August 3, 2021

Curated by Vancouver Mural Fest, sponsored by Microsoft. Hit the streets to discover local artists and Queer public art on the streets of downtown Vancouver and the West End

Drag Story Time: Online, starting July 20, at 10 AM PST

Join drag artists Mina Mercury and Justin Abit, in two distinct segments as they share fabulous picture books that centre queer families.

Drag Deliveries: Online July 26–30, 2021 starting at 4 PM PST daily

Drag Deliveries returns for a week of drag mayhem on the streets of Vancouver in collaboration with TUCK Entertainment & EVO Car Share. Follow the livestream as the drag road crew hit a new spot every day to give away swag and pop Pride trivia questions to innocent bystanders between 4–5 PM PST daily during Pride Week, July 26–30, 2021

LGBTQAI2S+ International Human Rights Panel: Online, July 27, at 6 PM

Vancouver Pride Society is honoured to present its second online LGBTQAI2S+ International Human Rights Panel in partnership with Dignity Network Canada. This event will feature international panelists speaking about queer and trans global human rights.

Symphonic Pride: Online, July 30, 2021, 7 PM PST

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Vancouver Pride Society are excited to announce its second virtual Syphonic Pride, July 30, 2021. Musical selections by Tchaikovsky, Smyth, Higdon, Sharman, Schubert, Corigliano and Copland.

POSH BALL 2021 – Online Kiki Ball: Online July 31, 2021 starting at 6 PM PST

Van Vogue Jam presents the second annual collaboration with Vancouver Pride Society: The POSH BALL – Online Kiki Ball. Tune in live by donation from the comfort of your home on July 31, 2021 at 6 PM PST. Sponsored by Lululemon, the online event will feature international judges, major effects, and cash prizes. 50% of all donations will be donated to QCHAT. Register at 2021poshball.eventbrite.ca

These are just a few of the dozens of events taking place for Vancouver Pride this year, to learn more about the full line-up of Pride celebrations, purchase tickets, register for events, or check out the Vancouver Pride Merchandise store, download the Vancouver Pride App or visit vancouverpride.ca. Tickets and registration will open on June 28 at 10 AM PST, ticket prices range from $0-$10, and with so much variety in this year’s event line-up there’s something for everyone

To stay in the know about Pride events, follow the Vancouver Pride Society on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.