Capital Pride 2023 kicking off this weekend
Posted Aug 18, 2023 09:42:25 AM.
Last Updated Aug 25, 2023 07:43:31 AM.
It’s expected to be a record-setting year for Ottawa’s Pride festival.
Capital Pride 2023 kicks off Saturday, August 19 with over 50 community events planned around the city.
“We’re looking likely to our largest parade ever,” Capital Pride executive director Toby Whitfield tells CityNews Ottawa. “The response from our community is really heartening. People want to be involved in and supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.”
This year, the theme is ‘Get Proud,’ a call to celebrate together even more loudly and proudly and promote the urgent need to mobilize against hate.
“We are looking forward to a big celebration here across the capital but at the same time we know that 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, both here in Ottawa, and in communities across the country, are facing rising hate,” Whitfield says.
One of the first major events of the festival is the 2023 Capital Pride Pageant, which will see drag performers compete for the title of Mx, Mr or Ms Capital Pride 2023. The pageant is being held at the National Arts Centre (NAC) from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Other events include: (will link these)
- A clothing swap at the Jack Purcell Community Centre on Saturday, Aug. 19.
- A family picnic in Hintonburg Park on Sunday, Aug. 20.
- A trivia night at Happy Goat on Sunday, Aug. 20.
- A flag-raising at Ottawa City Hall on Monday, Aug. 21.
- A Youth Art Exhibition Reception at the Ottawa Art Gallery on Tuesday, Aug. 22.
- The 2023 Human Right Panel at the National Gallery of Canada on Wednesday, Aug. 23.
- A panel on advancing 2SLGBTQIA+ rights in the workplace on Thursday, Aug. 24.
- Nature Nocturne Pride at the Canadian Museum of Nature on Friday, Aug. 25.
- Drag Show Extravaganza at TD Place Arena on Friday, Aug. 25.
- Capital Pride Street Festival on Saturday, Aug. 26 and Sunday, Aug 27. (Sam Laprade and Jason White will be broadcasting live from the Capital Pride Street Festival on August 26)
You can see a full list of events here.
This year’s Capital Pride Parade is being held on Sunday, Aug. 27, starting at Elgin Street and Laurier Avenue and ending at Laurier Avenue and Kent Street.
Capital Pride runs Saturday, Aug. 19 to Sunday, August 27.
