Vancouver has a massive gay and lesbian community. One only has to walk into Davie Street Village to realize. The street has rainbow pained crosswalks, pink bus stations, and brightly coloured shops everywhere you look. It’s a great place to be and lots of fantastic energy.
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Vancouver Pride Week is a huge deal in the city with parties and festivities happening all week long, culminating in the Vancouver Pride Parade which brings over 650,000 people downtown along the parade route. It’s been a number of years since I’ve been in the city for pride and I wanted to go check it out.
It was exactly how I remembered it to be. Lots of good looking people, amazing costumes, high energy and great fun. This year, I was able to watch the parade from above at a friend of a friend’s place. That meant no suffering under the draining heat of the sun or fighting the massive crowds. I also got a great bird eye view. It did make me wish I had a telephoto lens though! Here are a few shots from Vancouver’s parade this year.
The floats were not as elaborate as I remembered them to be, but there were a few good ones.
Vancouver Rowing Club
Despite being clean and sober, these guys had the most energy of everyone.
The Vancouver Port Authority – aren’t those seagulls too cute?
The cutest one, hands down, was the one from WestJet.
The local gay clubs were out in full force.
At the end of the parade it’s tradition for everyone to join in and follow the route until the end. There were so many people!
SO many people!
The parade leads into Sunset Beach where there are lots of tents and a stage set up for the pride festival.
Even more people!
Going to the Vancouver Pride Parade is a unique experience. It’s a lot of fun. You’re guaranteed a good time if you’re open to the flamboyant nature of the event. If you find yourself in Vancouver over the first weekend of August, make sure you set aside some time and check out the parade.
Know Before You Go
The parade is usually the first weekend of August, over the BC Day long weekend. It begins at Robson Street and Thurlow Street at noon, heads west to Denman Street, follows Denman to Pacific Street and Beach Avenue and finishes at Sunset Beach Pride Festival and Market around 3 pm.
It gets hot so be sun smart and bring sunscreen, a hat and lots of water!
Bring a toonie for Pride and throw it into the big rainbow flags that come along the route.
Have you gone to a pride event before? If so, where and how did you like it? If not, would you want to go?
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Amazing, pride events always are, aren’t they?! So beautiful and colourful
Yes! They definitely are. So much joy and fun.
Oh I went to the Pride Parade in Chicago last year and it was awesome! I’d love to go to Vancouver’s, though…I’m sure that’s an amazing experience!
The Vancouver pride festivities are definitely one of the best!
We’ve caught the tail end of a Pride Parade in San Diego a few years ago and it was fun. Loved all the activities and colors and this Vancouver one has a great location. What a perfect vantage point for you to see the parade. That Westjet one is adorable!
I haven’t been to any pride parades outside of Vancouver but I definitely would like to. They all seem so fun and vibrant.