Latest news with #PrideinthePark
Hamilton Spectator
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Community invited to celebrate Pride in Williams Lake Aug. 10-16
A full week of activities in August is planned to celebrate and support gender and sexual diversity in the Williams Lake area. From Aug. 10 to 16, Pride in the Puddle will bring together music, film, drag and a parade to the city, recognizing and raising awareness around the 2SLGBTQAI+ community. 'People who come to our events are always leaving much happier knowing that there's a whole thriving community for them to be a part of,' wrote Helena Morgan, president of the Williams Lake Pride Society (WLPS), in a statement to the Tribune. Kit and Kaboodle is offering 10 per cent off for anyone purchasing items from the store for Pride events, and the Foundry Cariboo Chilcotin is partnering with the WLPS to offer its Live Out Loud events the same week. 'Pride is definitely an important time for the youth growing up in town so they know they're accepted and celebrated,' said Rylee Smith, an outreach worker with Denisiqi Services Society who is helping to organize the event. 'I've been working on it since day one,' Smith said, noting this will be the city's second Live Out Loud event which he co-planned last year too. Live Out Loud will begin on Aug. 15 with a dance party at the Central Cariboo Arts Centre from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. It will be a dry, family friendly event and will also feature karaoke. The next day will be a busy one, with the Pride in the Puddle parade setting off at 10 a.m. from Fourth Avenue South between FreshCo and the BGC Williams Lake Club. The parade will end at Boitanio Park where a festival will run until 4 p.m. featuring performances by Troe Weston, and the Cariboo Accordion Association. There are a few slots left for performers who would like to participate. Pride in the Park will host vendors selling food, tie-dye apparel, pet manicures and more, and there will be a Calm Corner as well as art spaces for guests to enjoy. 'Our home in the Cariboo is one of rich culture and diversity across so many different walks of life – it would be so boring if everyone were the same,' Morgan wrote. 'The world is a much more colourful place when we belong. So please – come out! Have fun! Stay Alert. Stay Safe!' Live Out Loud will also be at Pride in the Park with a booth to help raise awareness around mental health and support services for 2SLGBTQAI+ youth. They will also have an Art Walk art show on display, organized by Foundry Peer Support worker Lillian Brown. The art show will feature submissions by youth aged 12 to 24 under the theme 'What does Pride mean to you?'. Entries will be accepted until Aug. 1 and can be dropped off at the Foundry office 51 Fourth Avenue South or can be emailed to llbrown@ . All forms of art will be accepted including drawing, digital, clay and more. Pride in the Puddle will wrap up in the evening of August 16 with a drag show at the Overlander Pub hosted by Freida Whales of Kelowna. Tickets for the event are on sale on her website . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Pride Flag Raised in Strathroy as Community Celebrates Inclusion
STRATHROY — Under a bright July 5th sky, members of the Strathroy-Caradoc community gathered on the steps of town hall to raise the Pride flag in a ceremony that marked the beginning of the municipality's sixth annual Pride celebration. Hosted by Strathroy Pride, the event drew dozens of residents, allies, and local leaders to recognize the importance of visibility, unity, and inclusion for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community—especially in rural Ontario. 'We gather not just to raise a flag, but to raise our voices, our hopes and our shared commitment to building a community where everyone is welcomed, respected and celebrated for who they are,' said Frank Emanuele, Director of Strathroy Pride, as he opened the ceremony from the lawn in front of town hall. This year's Pride programming included a wide variety of events—karaoke, bingo, drag brunches, and a biweekly youth group running from February to June. Emanuele noted that the group's efforts have been met with 'kindness, support and acceptance,' reinforcing Strathroy's growing reputation as a place where inclusion is more than just an idea—it's a practice. 'This pride flag may be made of fabric, but what it stands for is unbreakable: dignity, courage, diversity, and the power of being unapologetically yourself,' Emanuele said. 'We're saying clearly to the world that Strathroy stands against hate and discrimination and we stand proudly for inclusion and diversity.' Mayor Colin Grantham also spoke at the event, praising the impact of local advocacy. 'Frank spoke about community, and that word matters,' he said. 'What I see, especially through my grandsons, is how change is happening—not just through what people do, but through what they no longer say. There's a growing understanding and respect among the younger generation, and that's in part thanks to how active and visible the Pride movement has become here in Strathroy.' The Aeolian Pride Chorus was invited once again to perform, offering a rendition of John Lennon's Imagine, followed by the raising of the Pride flag by three young guests—Luca, Kayla, and Annika. After the ceremony, the celebration moved just a few blocks away to Alexandra Park for the sixth annual Pride in the Park event. Colourful booths lined the park pathways, showcasing local vendors, artists, advocacy groups, and small businesses. Families browsed handmade crafts and merch, while children enjoyed balloon animals, face painting, and a bouncy castle beneath the trees. A large heart-shaped rainbow balloon arch greeted visitors near the entrance, while a vibrant inflatable rainbow banner stretched above the main walkway. At the centre of it all was a spirit of celebration—not only for Pride but for community itself. 'As the rainbow flag flies high above our town, let it be a symbol of unity, courage and love,' Emanuele said in closing. 'Let it reflect the light of every person who lives here, and let it remind us that even in small towns, big change is possible when we stand together.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
ITV News
24-07-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Reading Pride's future at risk due to a funding shortfall
Organisers of one of Berkshire's biggest pride events say it is now at risk due to a funding shortfall. Reading Pride is set to take place on 30 August at King's Meadow. Every year, the event costs over £110,000 to run, with every penny coming from volunteers' fundraising. However, support from local companies and organisations has halved, which has left organisers with a £30,000 blackhole. The UK Pride Organisers Network says 75% of Pride events across the UK have seen a decline in sponsorship. This year, Southampton's 'Pride in the Park' as well as Liverpool Pride and Plymouth Pride were cancelled, all due to 'significant financial and organisational challenges.' It comes a year on from when Hastings Pride was rescued by a local taxi firm, after initially being cancelled. Organisers at Reading Pride are calling on the public to help support them saying, although it is a free event, they want to ensure it not only happens this year but continues to thrive for years to come. On Instagram, they said they're aren't just looking for donations but 'enthusiastic individuals' to volunteer.
Hamilton Spectator
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Bigger than ever': 4 reasons to check out this year's Pride Parade in Milton
It's time to add a little colour to Milton's downtown. Pride Halton is back on Main Street on July 20. Starting at 2 p.m., the free, family-friendly event will feature music, dancing and a whole lot of rainbows. Melanie Tremills, chair of Prism Halton, said there's a lot to be excited about. 'This year's event will be bigger than ever and we can't wait to celebrate Pride with our community in Milton and beyond. 'From local talent to lively performances, we're planning a day that truly reflects the spirit of our 2SLGBTQIA+ family and the incredible support of our allies.' The Milton event is the only Pride Parade in Halton region. It's a fairly new tradition — the 2025 event is the third edition of the community parade . It has been steadily growing each year with more sponsors, dignitaries and viewers taking part. Organizers are bringing the celebration beyond Main Street in 2025 with Pride in the Park. Following the march, the Pride in the Park Festival begins at the Milton Fairgrounds with local performers, community vendors, food trucks and family-friendly activities. The evening will wrap up with the Pride in the Park Drag Show. The 19-plus show is ticketed and showcases local drag queens. Organizers behind the parade said behind all the fun, the day is about drawing people together for joy, connection and empowerment. Prism Halton, a local organization advocating for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, said the parade aims to foster inclusivity, celebrate diversity and create a space where everyone feels seen and valued. You don't have to wait for the big parade to take part in local Pride celebrations. There are events throughout June you can check out. There's a pre-Pride Parade Drag Show on July 19 at The Eighth Note to help get you in the mood for celebration.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gets Real: Rainbow City Performing Arts
From Pride in the Park through the Parade, Rainbow City Performing Arts has been the sound of Seattle Pride for 27 years. It started with a marching band, growing into eight different performance groups and a space for people to build community. 'We're a refuge for people who come to Seattle and they don't have a place to belong,' said Damien Hall, the organization's executive director. 'We've been working for years to uplift people who use different pronouns, have different identities, and we work to make sure that we're there for the people who are most marginalized.' The Marching Band and Color Guard are some of the staples of the Pride Parade. Their Concert Band plays at Benaroya Hall, adding to the drumline, jazz band, chamber music performances, and the Orchestra. They're also the power behind the Reign City Riot, the first band for a professional women's soccer team. 'We're really excited to be getting a lot more visible here in Seattle. We've been kind of an underground organization for a lot of years.' Hall said. 'Because, a long time ago, we had to create spaces that were a little more private because we were under attack. Newer generations want us to be more visible.' All of the groups perform all around the Puget Sound region, during and outside the month of June. During Seattle Pride, their performance speaks to this year's theme, Louder. It's also close to their mission, according to Rachel Andeen, a cellist who has been in the marching band and orchestra for three years. 'I want to be visible, especially for those who really can't be visible and can't be safe. I live in a state with a lot of laws that protect me. I know people who don't, and so I want to be a visible symbol that it can get better.' Andeen said. The group has tripled in size since the pandemic, Hall says. He is always welcoming to new members of all skill levels. 'All you have to do is know how to play music, and we're open to anyone.'
