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.

In 2024 the pride festival happens in mid-August and its main event, the street party, is on August 17th.

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 is in August each year. The 2023 dates were from August 10th to 20th. The main events were the free New West Pride Street Festival on August 19th and the ticketed Untoxicated event which took place that same day. In 2024 the street festivals is on Saturday, August 17th.

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

In 2023 the New West Pride’s main street party-style event happened on Saturday, August 19th. That was the same day as the Chilliwack Pride Festival which is also an awesome free event with a 2SLGBTQIA+ theme. Other events that also happened in the Fraser Valley that same weekend were the Chilliwack Corn Maze, Chilliwack Flight Fest, Ribfest Langley and Abbotsford Summer Flower Festival. August 19th was also the first day of the season for the PNE Fair in Vancouver.

New West Pride

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 2023 event happened on Saturday, August 19th, from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm. There were two stages with live entertainment as well as various roving performers.

Below was the schedule for the 2023 event.

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 were 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 younger ones. The Street Festival is free for all to enjoy.

Band at New West Pride Street Festival

Untoxicated

Untoxicated took place on the same Saturday as the street party in 2023 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Anvil Centre at 777 Columbia Street. It cost around $55 to attend and was an entirely substance-free event. Many top drag queens were at this event including Monet X Change, Jaida Essence Hall, Icesis Couture and others.

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

New West Pride

Other Pride Events

While Pride Week is technically from August 10th to 20th, most of the 2023 events didn’t start until the 15th. Below is a listing of some of the main activities that took place this past year.