9 events and activities to celebrate Vancouver Pride 2015

The Vancouver Pride Festival is one of the most well-known and celebrated around the world.

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The build up during the week officially kicks off Monday, July 28 and includes hot club events, breakfasts, picnics, runs and film celebrating the diversity and strength of the LGBTQ community. It all comes to a climax on Sunday, August 2 at the 37th Annual Pride Parade which attracts crowds upwards of half a million people.

Vancouver’s Pride Week is an integral part of the city’s summer events and festivities. Here’s a guide of the must-attend events happening in Vancouver over the coming week!

Pre-Pride Week Events

Saturday, July 25: Pride Run & Walk

When: Saturday, July 25 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Brockton Oval, Stanley Park
Cost: Registration required

Runners of all abilities can dress up and head over to Stanley Park to enjoy the 10th annual Pride Run and Walk, hosted by Vancouver Frontrunners. The event includes 5 km, 10 km or walk course options. Prizes will be given for top finishers in the male, female and gender variant (the only race in North America for which this running category exists) categories as well as “Best Dressed” for team runners.

Disco water stations throughout the course will keep runners entertained in addition to the requisite beautiful waterfront view as you head towards the finish line.

Proceeds from the event go towards the Qmunity Pride Legacy Fund and Out in Schools, a program which helps to raise money for building community organizations that fight bullying and homophobia.

Registration is now closed, but you are encouraged to come down to Stanley Park to support and cheer on the runners from the sidelines.

Saturday, July 25: Picnic in the Park

When: Saturday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Brockton Oval, Stanley Park
Cost: FREE!

Even if you’re unwilling to participate in the Pride Run & Walk, the Vancouver Pride Society will be hosting a picnic located at the end of the Run and Walk finish line. Games such as tug-of-war, drag race and a volleyball tournament will be held by Out in Sports. There will also be local DJs and a beer garden for 19+ attendees.

For your convenience of getting to the site in Stanley Park, the Museum of Vancouver will be offering a Pride Trolley Pickup from the West End to Brockton Oval. Pick-ups will occur every half-hour from 10 a.m. to 5 pm. at Fountainhead and Independent Grocer.

Vancouver Pride Week 2015 Events

Monday, July 28: City of Vancouver Pride Week Proclamation

When: Monday, July 28 at 12 p.m.
Where: Vancouver City Hall (453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver)
Cost: FREE!

Vancouver Pride Week kicks off once again at City Hall in collaboration with the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Pride Society. The annual City proclamation will feature a panel discussion at 10:45 a.m. to address the current events the LGBTQ community. Afterwards, the Pride flag will be raised on the north lawn flagpole.

Following the proclamation, attendees can enjoy cocktails and speak with the Vancouver Pride Marshals and Legacy Awards Recipients regarding their support for the LGBTQ community. A barbeque will also be hosted by the City of Vancouver LGBTQ Advisory Committee.

Tuesday, July 28 to Sunday, August 2: This Is Pride

When: Tuesday, July 28 to Sunday, August 2
Location: Celebrities Nightclub (1022 Davie Street, Vancouver)
Cost: Get tickets here.

Every year, Celebrities produces the most outrageous unforgettable Pride parties. This year marks their their third year of hosting legendary events in their recently renovated space that includes state of the art Funktion One sound.

They will be going hard all week long from their busiest weekly party TUESDAYS to a LIVE Spice Gurls drag reunion show, to their legendary 13-hour party HISTORY SUNDAY, with international talent DJ Chris Cox in between. Also they will have a bangin’ stage during the Davie Street Pride Block Party.

Thursday, July 30: Reopening of The Odyssey

When: Thursday, July 30 at 9 p.m.
Location: The Odyssey Bar (686 West Hastings, Vancouver)
Cost: Get tickets here.

A Vancouver LGBTQ institution is reborn on Thursday, July 30. Nearly five years after its closure, the Odyssey will open its new location in Vancouver’s Central Business District. The former space of Pop Opera has been completely gutted into a new exciting space for the region’s queer community.

A number of opening weekend events coinciding with Vancouver Pride Weekend are planned for the nightclub, beginning with the Thursday night opener featuring XXX Superstar Brent Everett. Shower power will also be making a much-anticipated return.

Thursday, July 30: Underwear Party

When: Thursday, July 30 at 9 p.m. until 4 a.m.
Where: The Pumpjack Pub, 1167 Davie Street
Cost: $5.00

Davie Street’s famous Pumpjack Pub will be hosting an Underwear Party to kick off its Pride Weekend festivities. Come to the party in your undies and party late until 4 a.m.

Friday, July 31: Davie Street Pride Block Party

When: Friday, July 31 from 6 p.m. to midnight
Where: Davie Street from Burrard to Jervis streets
Cost: $5.00 for a wristband

Start your Pride Weekend on the right note with the annual Davie Street Block Party where a host of DJs will have you dancing all night. Attendees can also expect carnival games, food and booths with giveaways.

Thanks to liquor law reforms, this year’s beer garden will occupy the entire festival site on a three city block stretch of Davie Street from Burrard to Jervis streets. The underage event has been merged with the main event, but outdoor bar service will only be available to 19+ attendees.

The event kicks off at 6 p.m. and ends at midnight.

Sunday, August 2: Pride Festival and Market

When: Sunday, August 2 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Sunset Beach, Downtown Vancouver (at the end of the Pride Parade route)
Cost: FREE!

The Pride Festival and Market offers a beautiful waterfront gathering place for all Pride Partiers to enjoy all that Pride Week has to offer. Local artisans, entertainment on the main stage, DJs, a beer garden, plenty of street food and cool beverages to enjoy before, during and after the parade.

Sunday, August 2: Vancouver Pride Parade 2015

When: Sunday, August 2 from noon to 3 p.m.
Where: Along Robson Street, Denman Street and Beach Avenue in downtown Vancouver’s West End neighbourhood
Cost: FREE!

The parade begins at Robson Street and Thurlow Street, heads west to Denman Street, follows Denman to Pacific Street and Beach Avenue and finishes at the Sunset Beach Festival site. Altogether, the parade route runs along 20 blocks of downtown Vancouver’s streets.

It’s the crown jewel of Pride Week and one of the biggest, most renowned pride events in the world. Bringing in crowds of over 650,000, this flagship Vancouver event gained civic status in 2013 due to its immense popularity and success.

Click on the map for an enlarged version.

 

Vancity Buzz is a proud media partner of the 2015 Vancouver Pride Festival