Pride at the Pier is a free event celebrating the LGBTQ community and featuring DJ music, drag performances and other activities at North Vancouver’s Shipyards.
Last year the event took place on July 29th. In 2023 it happens on August 4th (which is on the BC Day Long Weekend).
Pride at the Pier
Pride at the Pier is a free event that’s part of Vancouver Pride Week and all are welcome.
In 2019 Pride at the Pier celebrated its third annual event on Tuesday, July 30th, from 5:00 until 9:00 pm at Shipbuilders’ Square in North Vancouver. The event was planned in part by an LGBTQIA2S+ youth advisory committee and the theme was drag!
Unfortunately, Pride at the Pier was unable to take place in 2020 due to COVID-19. It doesn’t look like the event happened in 2021 either. In 2022 Pride at the Pier returned from 5:00 until 10:00 pm on Friday, July 29th. In 2023, the event takes place on Friday, August 4th. As of late May, exact times and other details, however, are to be confirmed.
The venue for the event is usually at 115 Victory Ship Way which is just a 5-minute walk from Lonsdale Quay. If arriving via the North Shore’s SeaBus terminal, head east from Lonsdale Quay and you’ll find the festivities on the other side of the Tap and Barrel restaurant.
PRIDE WEEK WALKING TOURS
Forbidden Vancouver is a family-run tour company that offers walking tours of downtown Vancouver. During the Vancouver Pride Festival in 2023 they offered their Really Gay History Tours in Vancouver’s West End.
What to Expect
At Pride at the Pier you can expect to see a small number of participants dressed in colourful drag costumes (i.e., clothing of members of the opposite gender). More than that though, you can expect to see gay, straight and LGBTQ-friendly and supporting folk dancing and having a great time. There are kids with their families, and people of all ages, backgrounds and sexual orientations.
Pride at the Pier is an all-ages dance party that’s open to everybody. There are DJ tunes, food trucks and kid-friendly things to do. There are also usually prize pack giveaways and fun photo opportunities. The entertainment lineup in 2022 included Connie Smudge, Marlee Walchuk, Heathen, Ra, Entity Ecstasy, PhiCAS Dance, Katia, Jo Jo Zolina and Matthew Presidente.
Pride at the Pier is one of Vancouver Pride Week’s newest events. Being new, and on a weekday, it is a relatively small event, but gets slightly bigger each year.
Tips and Advice
Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most out of your experience at Pride at the Pier.
TIP #1: Take public transit if you can. The SeaBus is just a short walk away!
TIP #2: There are some great restaurants in the area. The Tap and Barrel, Pier 7 and Pinnacle Hotel‘s The Lobby Restaurant are all right there by Shipbuilders’ Square. There are other fabulous places to eat just across the street at the bottom of Lonsdale Avenue too. Click North Vancouver Restaurants for a list of establishments.
TIP #3: You don’t have to be gay, lesbian, queer, transgendered, two-spirited or queer to have fun at Pride at the Pier, just like you don’t have to be from the LGBTQ community to enjoy Vancouver’s much larger Pride Parade & Festival on the following weekend. It’s an inclusive event that’s open to everyone.
TIP #4: While in the area, explore Lonsdale Quay and check out its public market. It closes at around 7:00 pm though, so go earlier than later.
TIP #5: Pride at the Pier usually runs from 5:00 until 10:00 pm. It’s not usually a big event, however. Expect things to be fairly quiet, especially for the first hour or two.
Other Information
To learn more about this North Vancouver LGBTQ event, click Pride at the Pier.
For details about other similar (and larger) Pride Week-related events, see our article about the Vancouver Pride Parade & Festival.
To learn about gay and colourful events in other municipalities in the region, see our article about Lower Mainland Pride Events.
For information about the surrounding area, check out any of the following:
