With a population of approximately 1 million, Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and the third largest municipality in Canada. This sprawling modern metropolis at the eastern base of the Canadian Rockies has been considered a bit more conservative than Vancouver, Toronto, and other major Canadian cities, partly due to the city’s agriculture and oil industry-based economy, but especially In recent years, the city’s sizeable LGBT community has become highly visible and prominent. Every year in late August and early September, the community organizes for Calgary Gay Pride – the main events are usually during Labor Day weekend, but Calgary Pride week officially begins on 24 August.
Some 25,000 people are expected to attend Pride this year.
Calgary Pride Events
Calgary Pride 2016 is made up of numerous events and get-togethers, including a Pride Kicks off White Party on August 27 at the Backlot, a drag diva cabaret at Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino, walks through gay history in downtown Calgary, films at the Pride of the Rise Edition on St. Patrick’s Island on September 1, Rae Spoon in concert, a presentation of “The Wrong Kind of Girls: Proud, Loud, and a Little Too Vulgar,” a Youth Rainbow Rave, a Beef Bear Beer Bash at the Blind Monk, the Grand Finale Pure Pride Calgary party on September 3 at Flames Central, and much more – you can see a full schedule of events here.
The two most prominent celebrations are the Calgary Gay Pride Parade, which this year will take place on Sunday, September 4, from noon to 1:30 p.m. and the Calgary Gay Pride Festival in the Park, which takes place during the same day of the parade, Sunday September 4 from 12:30 to 6 pm. The festival takes place right where the parade ends, in Shaw Millennium Park, near the Bow River at 14 Street Southwest and 9 Avenue SW.
Be sure to check out the official Calgary Pride Events Calendar page for more details.
Keep in mind that at Jasper’s magnificent Alberta Ski and Recreation Center, Jasper Gay Pride Festival takes place in the heart of the winter sports season, in early March (dates for the next are 9 to March 12, 2017).
Calgary Gay Resources
Many of the city’s popular gay bars, restaurants, and other businesses have many activities during Pride week. Check out local resources on Calgary’s gay scene, like Gay Calgary magazine. Also take a look at the helpful visitor site produced by the city’s official tourism organization, Tourism Calgary.
