It’s almost Pride Festival Weekend in Toronto, with over 1 million people expected to attend one of the largest LGBTQ festivals in the world!
While the fun has been going on throughout the entire month of June, this weekend brings highly anticipated events, like the Dyke March, Pride Parade, Street Fair, as well as the world’s largest Trans Pride festival.
In between, there will be tons of shows and performances, events, concerts, and so much more to see throughout Festival Weekend. Here are some you won’t want to miss:
1. Opening Night: Be Loud
Kick off your weekend at Nathan Phillips Square with the exhilarating Opening Night: Be Loud event. Featuring a stacked lineup of critically acclaimed artists and tastemakers, the event will inspire you to take up space and get loud. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 28.
When: June 28, 2024
6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Where: TD Main Stage – Nathan Phillips Square
100 Queen St W, Toronto
2. Pride Festival Street Fair
As of Friday, June 28, Church Street between Bloor and Dundas will transform into a buzzing street fair, complete with six stages for live performances, food and drink vendors, top DJs, and curated entertainment. Known as the Toronto Gay Village, Church Street is the perfect starting point for your Pride weekend adventures.
When: June 28 – June 30, 2024
Where: Church Street between Bloor and Dundas
3. Trans Rally, March & Pride
Celebrate the Trans community on Friday at the world’s largest Trans March, which starts at 7 p.m. at Church and Hayden Streets. There will be speakers and performances throughout, honouring the experiences and struggles of Trans, nonbinary, and 2 Spirit folks.
When: June 28, 2024
Begins at 7 p.m.
Where: 78 Gould St, Toronto
4. Family Pride
Church Street Public School will be hosting an incredible Family Pride experience on June 29 and 30, celebrating the strength and uniqueness of 2SLGBTQI+ families and children. Stop by for face painting, a magic show, and storytelling with your kids between 0-12 years old.
When: June 29 and June 30, 2024
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: Church Street Public School
83 Alexander St, Toronto
5. Dyke Rally, March & Pride
Following the same route as the Trans March, the Dyke Rally kicks off at 1 p.m. on June 29, where you can enjoy speakers, performances, and sign making before the march starts at 2 p.m. at Church and Hayden. There will also be a number of Dyke and Lesbian performers and DJs to see as well.
When: June 29, 2024
Begins at 1 p.m.
Where: 78 Gould St, Toronto
6. Drag Ball
Pride Festival Weekend’s signature Drag Ball is back and bigger than ever, bringing 9 hours of the best drag from around the world to Nathan Phillips Square. There will be 60 drag artists and over 30,000 attendees expected, and this year, the event will have six different categories with a unique twist.
When: June 29, 2024
Begins at 2 p.m.
Where: TD Main Stage – Nathan Phillips Square
100 Queen St W, Toronto
7. Pride Parade
The main event of Pride month is the Pride Parade, which will march down Yonge Street from Bloor to Dundas before ending at Nathan Phillips Square on Sunday, June 30. Starting at 2 p.m., the largest Pride parade in Canada will feature vibrant floats, music, performers, and a huge celebration of the diversity, beauty and progress of the 2SLGBTQl+ community. After, there will be more entertainment on a big Main Stage and Beer Garden at Nathan Phillips Square.
When: June 30, 2024
Begins at 2 p.m.
Where:See the parade route here
8. Closing Night: Be Free
Once the Pride Parade leads you back to Nathan Phillips Square, the party will keep going at Closing Night: Be Free all night long until 11 p.m. Dance til the stars come out to your favourite Pride anthems, from 60s Motown to modern day talents like BIMINI (from Rupaul’s Drag Race), GRAE, and Dragonette.
When: June 30, 2024
2 p.m.
Where: TD Main Stage – Nathan Phillips Square
100 Queen St W, Toronto
While these are some of the most anticipated events of Pride Festival Weekend, there is so much more going on. You can see the full schedule of Pride-related events on the Pride Toronto website here.
Happy Pride!