Calgary Pride Is Finally Here & There Are So Many Spectacular Things To Do
Happy Pride, YYC! Calgary Pride Week 2020 officially kicks off on Friday, August 28. The organization has released their schedule and it looks absolutely jam-packed with all sorts of things to do. Here's what you can do to make the most of Pride Week this year.
The festival will take place between Friday, August 28 and Sunday, September 6. According to Calgary Pride, the festival and parade generally take place over the September long weekend.
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Each year, thousands of Calgarians gather "in celebration of sexual and gender diversity."
But due to COVID-19 circumstances, the celebration has been reimagined and will basically take place virtually. But that won't take away any of the fun as the agenda is as exciting as ever.
"Calgary Pride 2020 will feature over 200 LGBTQ2S+ artists, a free Learning Series featuring over 100 workshops #OurPride community partner events, daily DJ and Drag Hour entertainment leading up to Parade Day, and 11 hours of jam-packed entertainment on September 6," says the organizers.
The events will be available to the public through the organization's social media platforms, including their live streaming page, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and even LinkedIn.
You might not be able to march in the parade this year but at least you can enjoy the programming from the comfort of your couch.
A "Drag Hour" will be taking place every day, where some of Calgary's most glamourous queens will be performing and teaching you all about the local drag culture.
There's also a daily dance tutorial happening every day where an LGBTQ2S+ dance group called SNAP will be teaching you some unique but simple moves.
There are also a bunch of educational workshops and panels happening.
From a learning series on queer Black history to a variety show about racism, these workshops will help you stay informed.
Not everything is virtual, either. A Calgary Pride flotilla is set to go down the Bow River on Saturday, August 29, and you can join the float by getting your own raft.
There's also a rooftop party happening on Saturday afternoon. It's hosted by Modern Steak, a downtown restaurant, and you can hang out with other Pride-goers while being socially-distanced.
On the final day on Sunday, September 6, the day on which the parade would have taken place, a bunch of artists will be giving epic performances on the screen. They include Tynomi Banks from Canada's Drag Race, Kiesza, Matthew V, and Alex TBH.
The closing day is also supposed to feature remarks from the Pride president and Calgary's mayor Naheed Nenshi.
Calgary Pride Week
When: Friday, August 28 until Sunday, September 6
Why You Need To Go: To experience the most exciting events featured in Calgary Pride 2020.