St. Catharines is ready to show its Pride and celebrate equality, diversity and love.
The Niagara Pride Week Festival is set for May 28 to June 5 with in-person activities for the first time since 2019. Most of the festivities will take place in St. Catharines, with the Pride Niagara Kickoff Party, featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars” winner Alaska, set to start things off Saturday, May 28 at the Meridian Centre.
Pride celebrations return to Montebello Park Saturday, June 4 with the 9th Annual Pride in the Park, an outdoor all ages event with LGBTQ2+ friendly entertainment, family friendly activities, food and merchandise vendors, a fully licensed area with DJs, dance floor and more! Pride in the Park will welcome special guests Mayhem Miller (from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 10 and All Stars Season 5) and Brooke Lynn Hytes (from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 11 and Canada’s Drag Race Star) and feature amazing musical acts, such as Danny Dymond.
The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre hosting a couple of Pride festival events: the second annual Pride Prom on June 2 and the Pride Niagara Hieee Tea on June 5.
The Pride Prom is a free, all-ages event. Everyone needs a dance and to celebrate themselves, and Pride Prom allows LGBTQ2+ youth a chance to celebrate with Pride! Join Hosts Mr. Pride Niagara 2016 Kamin and Miss Pride Niagara 19/20 Hellen Heelz for a night filled with dancing, special guests performers, electing our nonbinary prom king and prom queen, professional prom style photos and prizes! Registration is required.
New to the festival this year is the the Pride Niagara Hieee Tea, a a high tea with a splash of camp! Another free event, the Hieee Tea features music, photo fun and delicious high tea foods and treats from The Vegan Hippie Chick. Guests are encouraged to add their flare, fabulous style, and sense of Pride to their attire.
What is a tea party without sparkling conversation? Each table is asked to compose a list of casual and positive questions to openly discuss with our head table, made up of local LGBTQ2S+ activists, allies, personalities, and political figures. With topics ranging from gender expression, activism, political responsibility to personal style and artistry.
Pride Niagara has a full list of the Pride week festivities on its website and even more details on its Facebook page.
