VanPrideFest was a big Vancouver Pride Festival event at Concord Pacific Place. It included live entertainment, food, drinks and more on a weekend in August.

Years ago there was the Sunset Beach Festival which was one of the two biggest events during the Vancouver Pride Festival (the other being the Vancouver Pride Parade).

In 2023 and 2024, however, instead of happening at Sunset Beach, there was VanPrideFest at Concord Pacific Place near Science World. The event was very similar, just at a different location. In 2025 things seem to have changed again, and it doesn’t seem like VanPrideFest will happen this year. Instead, there is likely to be a street festival on Davie Street, although exact details are to be confirmed as of early April.

Other events celebrating the 2SLGBTQIA+ community around this time of year are baseball’s Pride Night with the Vancouver Canadians, the Vancouver Pride Boat Party and Pride Day at Bard on the Beach, and Forbidden Vancouver’s Really Gay History Tours.

To learn about other events that might be of interest, see our August Calendar or articles about Lower Mainland Pride Events or the BC Day Long Weekend. To learn about VanPrideFest, continue reading.

Vancouver’s VanPrideFest

The Vancouver Pride Festival is a series of events in late July and early August that celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. One of the festival’s biggest events the last couple years was VanPrideFest. It was free to attend and featured a variety of things to do.

Formerly known as the Sunset Beach Festival, the event used to take place as a one-day affair at Sunset Beach. However, in 2023, the popular event moved to a new location in False Creek. Festivities ran for two days and included all sorts of live performances and market vendors. There were also food trucks on site as well as places where you could buy alcoholic beverages.

Where and When?

VanPrideFest was held at Concord Pacific Place. The venue is located at 50 Pacific Boulevard. It’s situated along the beautiful False Creek Seawall, which is a popular attraction for walking and cycling. The park is north of Science World and east of BC Place Stadium.

In 2024 VanPrideFest took place on the weekend of August 3rd and 4th. The event happened from noon until 7:00 pm on both days. The event’s status for 2025 is TBC, although it looks more likely that it won’t happen. Instead there will be a street party on Davie Street, likely on August 3rd (right after the parade).

Admission Details

General admission to the event (when it happened) was free. Tickets were not required.

However, for those interested, there were VIP tickets available. The 2024 event had a separate VIP Lounge. It came with several benefits, including a private bar and separate washrooms. The VIP area offered some of the best and most comfortable views of the entertainment as well. These tickets cost around $150 last year.

What to Expect at VanPrideFest

Like other events in the Vancouver Pride Festival, you could expect to see people of all ages wearing bright colours and costumes at VanPrideFest.

The event offered a couple of stages with entertainment throughout the weekend. There were singers, drag queens and other types of performances. Several DJs played dance music. The entertainment schedule from 2024 is further below.

VanPrideFest also had a market with different types of vendors. There was an area with food trucks at the event too, along with a bar for adults. The event usually had a special Low Sensory Zone which was to be a calm place for folks who needed a break or were feeling overwhelmed.

Entertainment Schedule

Below was the list of performers at the 2024 event.

Saturday, August 3rd, 2024

Note: All featured performers on this day were drag queens.

• VENUS – winner of Canada’s Drag Race Season 4
• Gisèle Lullaby – winner of Canada’s Drag Race Season 3
• Icesis Couture – winner of Canada’s Drag Race Season 2
• Aurora Matrix – appeared on both Canada’s Drag Race and 1 Queen 5 Queers
• Girlfriend Experience – appeared on both Canada’s a Drag and Canada’s Drag Race
• Kendall Gender – winner of Vancouver’s Next Drag Superstar in 2017
• Melinda Verga – appeared on Canada’s Drag Race
• Synthia Kiss – appeared on Canada’s Drag Race
• Ilona Verley – the first Indigenous and two-spirit person to compete on Canada’s Drag Race

Sunday, August 4th, 2024

Note: All featured performers on this day were musical artists.

• Rêve – a Quebecois artist who has had two platinum singles on the Canadian charts
• LU KALA – a Congolese-Canadian singer who has charted in both Canada and the US
• Witch Prophet – a Toronto-based musician who was the subject of the documentary Leilani’s Fortune
• BoiBnd – a new Canadian pop group that formed in 2023

Tips & Advice

Below are things that are good to know before attending VanPrideFest.

TIP #1: Leave your furry friends at home! Pets are not permitted on the festival grounds. Exceptions are only made for registered service animals.

TIP #2: There are multiple paid parking lots close to Concord Pacific Place. If taking public transit, the venue is about a five-minute walk away from Main Street-Science World SkyTrain Station.

TIP #3: If you don’t mind carrying a water bottle around, bring one with you. It will likely be hot on the weekend of the event, and there are stations to refill your bottles in the park.

Other Information

For more information about the event, visit the Vancouver Pride website.

Other articles that might be of interest include the following:

• Vancouver Pride Festival
• Other Pride Events in Metro Vancouver
• Vancouver Festivals and Events
• August Calendar of Events