The Lower Mainland celebrates its 2SLGBTQIA+ communities with gay Pride-themed events in Vancouver, North Vancouver, New West, Surrey, Whistler and elsewhere.

The biggest and most famous event is the Vancouver Pride Parade which attracts tens of thousands of people. There are street parties, festivals, drag shows and other similar events in Vancouver and other municipalities throughout the region too.

Other highlights of the season include the Vancouver Pride Boat Party on August 4th, Pride Day at Bard on the Beach on August 4th and Really Gay History Tours on various dates. There is also VanPrideFest, Happyland at the PNE and so much more on the BC Day Long Weekend. On Friday it’s also Pride Night at the Shipyards Night Market in North Vancouver.

This article contains information about the following:

Pride Celebrations and Events in Metro Vancouver

Every summer there are Pride parties, parades and other events that take place in and around Vancouver. June is officially Pride Month, although not all Pride Weeks are in June. There are plenty in July and August as well, and sometimes at other times of the year too (like with Whistler Pride in winter). For those who want to celebrate all things 2SLGBTQIA+, there are a number of major event options to choose from.

Vancouver Pride Boat Party

Vancouver Boat Parties hosts an annual boat party in celebration of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. In 2024, the Pride Boat Party takes place on the night of Sunday, August 4th. It runs from 8:00 pm until 12:00 am, so well after the Vancouver Pride Parade on the same day.

The cruise offers great views of the city, along with DJ music, dancing and drinking. It’s a fun event for ages 19 and above. Everyone is encouraged to dress to impress.

For more information about the event, see our article about Vancouver Boat Parties or visit the official Vancouver Pride Boat Party page.

Forbidden Vancouver’s Really Gay History Tours

Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours don’t just happen during Vancouver Pride, but the company is usually a sponsor of the festival. One of its tours has an 2SLGBTQIA+ theme. It happens throughout much of the year, but with additional tours during Pride Week.

From around June to October Forbidden Vancouver offers its Really Gay History Tour which showcases the history of 2SLGBTQIA+ activity in Vancouver. The tours typically begin at 10:00 am on Sundays at the Robert Lee YMCA building and end in the Davie Street Village.

Additional tours are held during Pride Week. The tours offer a great opportunity to learn about the struggles of Vancouver’s gay community and how it has gained recognition and acceptance over the years. The tours are very educational and highly recommended.

To learn more about these and the company’s other more traditional tours, see our article about Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours.

Pride-Related Theatre

There are multiple live theatre shows in Vancouver with special Pride celebrations. The first is Pride Night at Theatre Under the Stars on July 22nd in 2024. There are also special shows at The Improv Centre on Granville Island, including Pride Race and a drag show on August 1st. Lastly, Bard on the Beach hosts Bard Pride Night on August 4th this year.

North Vancouver Pride

The biggest Pride event on Vancouver’s North Shore is Pride at the Pier. In 2024, the event is scheduled to take place on August 2nd at Shipbuilders’ Square in North Vancouver. What makes it extra big is that it’s held in conjunction with Pride Night at the Shipyards Night Market (which itself is an awesome event every Friday evening in the summer).

At Pride at the Pier there are usually DJs, drag performances, food trucks, cocktails and other activities. The event is sort of a dance party most years with plenty of live music and people of all ages attending.

Pride at the Pier is smaller than the main Vancouver Pride events that take place elsewhere during the same week, but it’s growing. It takes place in a very accessible area as well with great places to shop and eat nearby.

With Pride Night at the Shipyards Night Market, on Friday, August 2nd, there is a drag show from 4:00 until 6:00 pm followed by DJ music until 8 o’clock. Then, from 8:00 until 10:00 pm, there is the Susana Williams Band.

To learn more about this event, see our articles about Pride at the Pier or the Shipyards Night Market.

Vancouver Pride Festival

Vancouver Pride has its official festival week at the end of July or beginning of August. Events also take place throughout the month of July with some as early as June. It’s the biggest Pride festival in the Lower Mainland, and one of the largest in North America. In addition to the main events, activities usually include ballroom parties, fitness classes, walking tours, baseball games, theatre shows, educational panels and more.

See below to learn about the Vancouver Pride Parade, VanPrideFest, Happyland and Really Gay Walking Tours with Forbidden Vancouver. To learn more about the festival in general, see our article about the Vancouver Pride Festival.

Vancouver Pride Parade

The biggest attraction of the Vancouver festival is the annual Pride Parade. In 2024, the parade happens on August 4th of the BC Day Long Weekend.

The parade floats normally assemble at the corner of Denman Street and Davie Street, before marching to Concord Community Park. Crowds that go to watch the parade are huge! This is especially the case in the middle of downtown. So many people attend this event!

The Pride Parade is one of the biggest events in Vancouver and it’s very bright and colourful. It’s family-friendly and open to everyone regardless of sexual orientation. Dozens of floats take part in the event as do bands, folks in colourful (and sometimes rather risqué) costumes, and more.

VanPrideFest

The VanPrideFest runs on the Saturday and Sunday of August 3rd and 4th in 2024. It takes place at Concord Community Park.

The event is free to attend and typically includes multiple stages with live entertainment throughout the day. There is also usually a beer garden as well as various artisan vendors and community organization booths.

To learn more about this Vancouver Pride event see our article about VanPrideFest.

Happyland at the PNE

Happyland celebrates its third year on August 4th, 2024. The event happens from 5:00 to 10:00 pm at Playland. Happyland features concerts, drag shows, food trucks and more. Attendees have access to the full park, meaning they can enjoy all the rides as well.

This year’s event is headlined by Tinashe. Other performers include Vincint, Adore Delano and Raja Gemini.

New Westminster Pride

New West Pride Week takes place in August, from the 9th to the 17th in 2024. There are various events happening during that time with the main New West Pride Street Festival on the final day.

The Street Festival is held on Columbia Street in downtown New Westminster. It takes place from 3:00 to 8:00 pm and covers a four-block area from Fourth to Eighth Avenue. The event usually features three different stages with live entertainment, along with many other activities.

Other events taking place in New Westminster during the city’s Pride Week are karaoke events, trivia nights and a boat cruise.

LUSH Living Room

LUSH Living Room is a free event hosted by Lush Fresh Cosmetics at Celebrities Nightclub at 1022 Davie Street in Vancouver’s West End. The event celebrates the 2SLGBTQIA+ community with fitness classes from Lagree West, Barry’s Bootcamp and CmmnGrnd. There is also a burlesque workshop, drag bingo and vendor marketplace. The event is free to attend. To avoid disappointment, however, register in advance to secure your spot!

For details and to book your free tickets, click LUSH Living Room in 2024.

Pride Night with the Vancouver Canadians

August 1st is Pride Night with the Vancouver Canadians at Nat Bailey Stadium. The game is against Tri-City starting at 7:05 pm. Expect to see lots of rainbow colours at the game!

Squamish Pride at Britannia Mine

The Britannia Mine Museum celebrates the LGBTQ community with Old Town, New Queens. Its Squamish Pride Night event happened on June 22nd in 2024.

Old Town, New Queens has as many as 10 performers entertain in different drag shows. Guests can also have fun exploring the museum. It’s a fun event that welcomes everyone.

To learn more about this event, see our article about Pride Night at Britannia Mine.

Surrey Pride

Pride celebrations in Surrey are generally a bit smaller than in Vancouver and they take place in June. This year, the Surrey Pride Festival was on June 22nd at Surrey Civic Plaza.

Festivities normally include a series of drag performances as well as some live music. This past year was a big one, as it was the 25th anniversary of the Surrey Pride Festival!

For more information about this festival, click Surrey Pride Festival.

Chilliwack Pride Festival

The Chilliwack Pride Festival is an annual celebration typically held in August. This year, the event is a one-day festival on Sunday, July 21st. It starts at 10:00 am and runs until 4:00 pm. The festival takes place in the downtown area of Chilliwack.

It’s a fairly big street party with lots of family-friendly activities. There are market vendors, games for kids and several giveaways. The event also features a beer garden for adults and a couple stages with live music, drag performances and other entertainment.

To learn more about this event, see our article about the Chilliwack Pride Festival.

Drag Show at Chilliwack Pride — Chilliwack Pride Festival

Whistler Pride Festival

Whereas most Lower Mainland Pride festivals happen in the summer, the one that’s a couple of hours from Vancouver up the Sea to Sky Highway happens in winter.

Whistler Pride & Ski Festival happened from January 21st to 28th in 2024.

In Whistler the 2SLGBTQIA+-themed events include a procession, parties and skiing activities.

To learn more about this event see the WhatToDoInWhistler.ca website.