You know I’m excited that it’s Pride Week! Don your brightest colours, add an unreasonable amount of sparkle, and remember why we’re celebrating: everyone deserves to feel safe being fully and unapologetically themselves. Let’s show up for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and have some fun!

Speaking of events that encourage us to BOLDLY be ourselves… the Vancouver Fringe Festival is back from 9/10-20 with all the wacky, wonderful and boundary-pushing performances it’s known for. Expect 11 days of theatre, dance, comedy, drag, music, and performances that are delightfully hard to explain afterward. Enter to win two six-show multi-buy passes and find your new niche obsession.*

JUST ANNOUNCED

• Come Toward the Fire returns for three powerful days of Indigenous music, dance, film, storytelling, knowledge sharing, and more across UBC. Free and ticketed events from 9/18–20!

• I’d like a girl with a short skirt and a longggggggg jacket. Yep - Cake are playing all your favourite songs on 8/25 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre!

• Your dream Island getaway is on us! Win round-trip BC Ferries, a two-night stay at Fairways, Malahat SkyWalk and Royal BC Museum passes, signature wine tastings, and a $100 dining voucher.*

• Decades later and Beck is still creating ear-worms we can’t get out of our head! Catch him on his Ride Lonesome Tour on 9/16 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

• There were TONS of just announced shows this week from Whipped Cream, Squeeze, The Bouncing Souls, Of Monsters and Men and many more!

GUIDE TO PRIDE

Want to be a better ally, support queer-owned businesses, find underground parties, or help beyond Pride? Our Guide to Pride has you covered! Huge thanks to Karmella Barr for sharing resources and her Pride top picks - scroll down for more. First, here are a few events you won’t want to miss:

• BIRDHOUSE PRIDEFEST - 7/31-8/3 @ Various Locations

• MAN UP PRIDE - 7/31 @ The Pearl

• VANCOUVER TRANS MARCH - 7/31 @ Trout Lake

• PUBLIC DISCO PRIDE BLOCK PARTY - 8/1 @ 4th & Ontario Street

• VANCOUVER DYKE MARCH & FESTIVAL - 8/1 @ Grandview Park

• DAVIE VILLAGE PRIDE FEST - 8/2 @ Davie Village & Nelson Park

• VANCOUVER PRIDE PARADE - 8/2 @ Pacific Blvd to Howe Street

THIS WEEKEND

THE LOCAL LIST

Award-winning drag artist, activist, and community leader Karmella Barr knows Vancouver's queer scene inside and out. Karmella is known for being the Emprex 51, co-creator of House of Sissy, and a passionate advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities; they've spent years helping create the spaces that make this city feel like home. Just in time for Pride, Karmella is sharing five venues where you can celebrate, connect, and be unapologetically yourself.

WIN STUFF

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