Your Guide to Pride 2022

For even more festivities, make sure to check out Victoria Pride Society’s page and events calendar for information.

HAPPY PRIDE!

Queer at Sea: Tales from the 2SLGBTQ+ Community

May 17th – Nov 5th

The Maritime Museum of British Columbia’s newest exhibit pays homage to the queer, trans, and two-spirit communities that have long been a part of BC’s maritime history and culture. This exhibit shares the stories of community members in their own words – offering deeply personal reflections of how their orientation and identities played into their life at sea.

The Museum is located on the corner of Douglas and Humboldt, and also offers Inner Harbour walking tours in the summer. 

Queer League at Axe and Grind

June 5th, Sundays

Come get your axe throwing game on in a safe, welcoming space!  Axe & Grind’s Queer League started on June 5th and plays every Sunday – but there’s still plenty of opportunity to sign up! You play 4 games each night, so if you miss a night, you’d play 8 to catch up. Sign up and meet like-minded axe throwers – whether they are brand new to the sport or can trick-shot a bullseye.

The House of Mercury with Mina Mercury – Live Drag Show

Repeats Saturdays, 9-11pm

As Victoria’s newest LGBT2Q+ restaurant (and also the voted winner of Tasting Victoria’s Best New Restaurant in 2022!), there truly is no place like Dorothy’s. Friends of Dorothy Cocktail Lounge celebrates living life in technicolour, featuring a bright ambiance, modern tastes, and colourful craft cocktails to accompany the incredible talent they feature. Walk the yellow brick road over to them on Saturday nights to see Mina Mercury, a Canadian drag queen, recording artist and impersonator put on a highly entertaining show for diners.
 

Pride at Wildplay Victoria

June 22nd, from 5pm-9pm

Join Wildplay Victoria on June 22nd, for a FREE, sober, and family-fun event! Food and live music will be available, as well as discounts on some of your favourite WildPlay adventures if you use the code PRIDE20. If you’d like to scream out your pent up Pride at the top of Victoria’s tree-tops – this event is for you. 

Wham Glam Drag Shabam!

June 24th, 2022, 7 – 10pm

The Wham Glam Drag Shabam is back by popular demand at KWENCH Work + Culture Club after April’s great success! Not to be missed, see well known talent such as Woofie, Vivian Vanderpuss, and Eddie Licious put on a delightfully saucy show. Strut over to Store Street the night of the 24th to the modern and dazzling KWENCH – a freshly renovated club in an industrial building originally built to house Victoria’s streetcars.
 

The Big Gay Dog Walk

June 24th 2022, 6:30-8pm

Calling all canine friends, and the humans they own to Dallas and Cook!  Victoria Pride Society’s Big Gay Dog Walk is back – a colourful, free event where dogs can show off their own pride.  In line for this year is a trick and costume competition, with plenty of fabulous prizes to be won. Whether you have plans for your canine friend, or are just coming down to watch – RSVP at their Facebook event! 
 

Victoria Pride Parade

June 26th 2022, 11am

Let your Pride flags fly over the Johnson Street Bridge during Victoria’s highly anticipated Pride Parade. This year’s new parade route follows the scenic ocean-side Wharf Street before making it to BC’s Parliament Buildings. Each year, the parade features over 140 entrants and 40,000+ spectators (that may have a chance to join in at the end!) as the city erupts in celebration and colour. As the city’s (and one of Canada’s) pinnacle Pride events, do NOT miss this lively parade!
 

Victoria Pride Festival in the Park

June 26th 2022, 10am-8pm

The perfect complement to the Pride Parade, join thousands at Macdonald Park in James Bay for the multifaceted queer-themed Victoria Pride Festival. Programming includes a family-friendly atmosphere with music, bouncy castles, drag story time, and surprises. Later in the day, the event transitions into an evening of music, dance, live bands, and some of the best drag talent in Canada. Come on down to this free festival! 
 

Pride Lunch on the Lawn at Fairmont Empress

June 26th 

Feeling extra iconic for Pride? Have we the event for you! It’s the ultimate al fresco dining experience on the iconic Fairmont Empress‘ front lawns, with stunning views of the Inner Harbour. Reserve your very own harbour facing picnic spot complete with blankets, pillows, and a basket brimming with delicious, colourful, upscale food. Elevate your experience with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne or rainbow cocktails from the Q at the Empress bar menu!

Can’t make it on the 26th? Have no fear: all of June, the Empress is offering a special dessert and cocktail in celebration of Pride month! Enjoy their bold and beautiful Let Love Reign dessert or our bright, crisp and refreshing Don’t Reign on my Parade cocktail. With every pride experience, a donation will be made to Victoria Pride Society. 

Proud and LOUD!: A Pride Celebration

June 27 – 28, 7:00 PM – 1:00 AM

Time to unleash all that pent up PRIDE! The House of Dubét and the Victoria Event Centre present a double feature Pride event: Proud and LOUD! The show is hosted by queer-adjacent comedian Emily Woods and features local drag superstars Vivian Vanderpuss (who has just been announced as a competitor on Canada’s Drag Race season 3!) and Eddilicious. Come dressed in your own monochromatic look and we’ll build a giant rainbow on the dancefloor! 

Queer Film Festival

June 27th – 29th 

Happening during Pride Week, the Broad View United’s Pride team selected three films, highlighting different experiences LGBTQIA2S+ folks go through: ‘God’s Own Country’, ‘Boy Meets Girl’ and ‘Saving Face’. After each film featured in the Queer Film Festival, the audience will have the chance to digest and discuss the themes at play. Students watch for free! 
 

Queer Activism Night

June 30th from 5 – 8pm

This event invites everyone to the Bay Centre Shopping Centre for a night of 2SLGBTQ+ activism. Locals and visitors alike are invited to speak on everything from self-empowerement to social justice issues. This free event involves speakers, dinner, and mindful conversation about the work that remains to be done to support the community.
 

Memorial Drag Ball Game

July 1st at noon

A beloved local favourite! Happening July 1st, come out to Victoria West Park to enjoy a game of ball in drag. Whether you are playing, spectating, or cheering, this event promises to be a real hoot.  The Memorial Drag Ball Game is Canada’s only Pride event in remembrance of those who passed during the AIDS pandemic.  Local entertainment will be available (Eves’ Destruction Roller Derby), along with a barbeque, drinks and food, kids face painting, story time, and drag talent. Fun (and free) for the whole family! 
 

Pride in the Word

July 2nd, 7 – 9pm

Happening at the Victoria Conference Centre, Pride in the Word is Canada’s largest Pride literary event. This year’s event features six writers bringing an intersectional lens to our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities through their powerful words and performance. With presentations of a wide range of literature involving Indigenous Two-Spirit readings, a children’s picture book, poetry, and critically acclaimed novels and authors, this event calls forward every book-worm and beyond for a fun, mindful, and thought-provoking evening. 
 

For even more festivities, make sure to check out Victoria Pride Society’s page and events calendar for information.

HAPPY PRIDE!