Reconnect - Vancouver Pride 2023 Season
Announcing the 2023 Pride Season, Embracing the Theme of "Reconnect"
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the 2023 Pride Season, set to commence on June 24 with East Side Pride and ending with the annual Vancouver Pride Festival starting on July 28. This year's Pride Season, embracing the theme of "Reconnect," promises a vibrant array of events and celebrations to honour our local 2SLGBTQAI+ community.
"Reconnect” embodies the Vancouver Pride Society's ongoing commitment to amplifying the voices of Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities. It signifies an opportunity to reconnect with our history, physical spaces, and most importantly, with each other. Through "Reconnect," VPS aims to celebrate the crucial relations between VPS and the city's unsung queer communities.
The festivities will kick off on June 24 at Grandview Park with East Side Pride, an all-ages daytime celebration filled with exciting attractions hosted by Batty B Banks. Attendees can expect performances by East Van's finest drag artists, free concerts by Hoodie Browns, Emerald Osagie, Lola Lovegood, Nonsweet, Nostic, and the Rainbow Concert Band, an artisan market, local food vendors, and engaging demonstrations by Science World and Forbidden Walking Tours.
From July 28 to August 6, the Vancouver Pride Festival will bring a jam-packed lineup of events taking place at the Davie Lounge, VanPrideFest and venues around the city. Continuing with the takeover model from last year, programming will be curated by local 2SLGBTQAI+ groups such as Normie Corp, Ricecake, House of Bukuru, Queers & Beers, Comedy Here Often and more. This year we will also have the return of the iconic Posh Ball presented by Van Vogue Jam, bringing a lavish party to Parq Vancouver right on the first day of the Festival.
The Davie Lounge will be a hub of queer creativity and expression, hosting a series of events that showcase the diverse talents within our community. Programming will include performances by local icons ENBY 6 and Virago Nation, queer poetry slam, comedy showcase and a groundbreaking event that marks an important milestone: the first-ever all-Black Pride party presented by AfroQueer.
On August 5 and 6, VanPrideFest will take over Concord Pacific Place with concerts, DJs, drag performers, food trucks and much more to be announced over the upcoming weeks.
The annual Vancouver Pride Parade will take place on August 6, debuting a new route which will lead attendees right into VanPrideFest for a last day of celebrations.
Save the dates on your calendars for the 2023 Vancouver Pride Season and join us in honouring the vibrant diversity of the 2SLGBTQAI+ community. For more information and updates on the events, stay tuned to our website and social channels.