New West Pride

A celebration of all things gay and 2SLGBTQIA+, New West Pride Week takes place in New Westminster in August. It features a variety of fun events.

The pride festival usually happens in mid-August and its main event, the street party, follows a few days later. Other events that happen around the same time include Ribfest Langley, Chilliwack Flight Fest, Symphony in the Park and the Chilliwack Corn Maze in the Fraser Valley. There is also the PNE Fair, Port Moody Car Free Day, Shipyards Night Market and various other fun events in Metro Vancouver.

To learn about what else is happening in the Lower Mainland, see our August Calendar of Events or article about What’s Happening This Weekend. To learn about the 2SLGBTQIA+ event in New Westminster, continue reading.

This article contains the following information about the New West Pride Festival:

The Street Festival | Untoxicated | Other Pride Events | Other Information

New West Pride Festival

New West Pride Week happens every August. The 2025 dates are to be confirmed. The main events are the free New West Pride Street Festival and the ticketed Untoxicated event which takes place the same day.

There are various other events that take place over the course of the week. Some are free while others have an admission fee. There are drag performances, dance parties, trivia nights and plenty more.

Last year’s New West Pride’s main street party-style event happened on Saturday, August 17th. Other events going on in the Fraser Valley that same weekend were the Chilliwack Corn Maze, Chilliwack Flight Fest, Ribfest Langley and Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival. August 17th was also the first day of the season for Vancouver’s iconic PNE Fair.

The Street Festival and Untoxicated

The New West Pride Street Festival takes place on Columbia Street between Fourth and Eighth Avenue in downtown New Westminster. The event typically takes place on a Saturday in August, running from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm. There are two stages with live entertainment as well as various roving performers.

Below was the schedule for the 2023 event. The full schedule for 2024 had yet to be released as of the beginning of August, but entertainers this past year included Peter Breeze, Devours, Jayden McKenzie, Kele Fleming and Guyliner.

Main Stage (in 2023)

3:00 pm – Jesse Lee Schulte
3:35 pm – Lola Lovegood
4:10 pm – Norine Braun
4:50 pm – Jandrou
5:30 pm – Rebel Will
6:15 pm – Subtop Band
6:55 pm – Matthew Presidente Band
7:35 pm – Leo D.E. Johnson

Community/Street Stage (in 2023)

3:00 pm – Opening Ceremony
3:30 pm – Rainbow Chorus
4:05 pm – Pet & Awards Ceremony
4:45 pm – Hidden Wonders
5:10 pm – Blue Chu
5:50 pm – Dear Milo
6:30 pm – Devilicious & Nimrat the Drag
7:20 pm – DJ Hollyaholly

In addition to the above, at the event there are typically roving circus and dance performers moving throughout the festival area.

For those who are 19+, there is a beer garden to enjoy with food trucks nearby as well. There is also a kids’ area with some activities for the little ones. The Street Festival is free for all to enjoy.

Untoxicated

Untoxicated takes place on the same Saturday as the street party from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Anvil Centre at 777 Columbia Street. It’s an entirely substance-free event and costs around $55 to attend. Many top drag queens have been in attendance in the past, including Monet X Change, Jaida Essence Hall, Icesis Couture and others.

The Anvil Centre is within the area in which the Street Festival takes place, making it easily accessible for anyone who wants to experience both activities over the course of the day. For those who want the chance to be even closer to some of the drag queens, there are meet and greet opportunities available.

Other Pride Events

Pride Week typically runs between the second and third weeks in August, so there is plenty to enjoy besides just the main festival! Below is a listing of some of the main activities that took place last year.