The Fernie Pride Society is excited to announce the return of the Elk Valley Pride Festival, celebrating its 10th year, taking place September 16-20, in Fernie.

Join us in Fernie for a five-day celebration of Pride featuring a bike parade, flag raising, Pride in the Park, Rainbow Reads, drag storytime, workshops and education, hiking, biking, youth events, drag shows, live music, and so much more!

The festival opens Wednesday, September 16, with a Bike Decoration Station, Youth Craft & Skate with Grip Tape Girls, and the All Genders Pride Ride. Thursday is when festivities really kick off, starting with a Lunch and Learn Series with the Edmonton 2Spirit Society, followed by the festival’s Flag Raising and Opening Ceremonies, then the Pride Bike Parade and Pub Picnic in the Park and ending with Rainbow Reads with author Robin Stevenson.

Friday’s programming includes a longtime family favourite – Drag Story & Craft Time, followed by Drag King 101 workshop with the Backstreet Butches, an All Bodies Swim, and leading into an evening with music with something for everyone: Spirits and Songs at Fernie Distillers, and the Queer as Punk evening event at the Fernie Legion.

Saturday brings a full day of Pride programming, beginning with Pride Stride with Hike Fernie and Intro to Skate, but Make it Gay, followed by the festival’s signature Pride in the Park celebration. Running from noon to 6 p.m., Pride in the Park will offer a FREE all-ages celebration of arts and artists, with performances, music and community vendors and activities for the whole family.

The evening goes out with a bang, the Backstreet Butches will be gracing the stage at The Central.

The festival wraps up Sunday with Sunday Sip Drag Lunch with The Nuffs (featuring Canada’s Drag Race All Stars Runner Up Nearah Nuff), followed by a Youth Lunch & Learn on Indigenous Language Reclamation with Aiyana Twigg, where parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.

The Elk Valley Pride Festival welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds and is committed to creating inclusive and affirming spaces for 2SLGBTQ+ community members, allies and visitors. Our events take place at accessible venues across town, many events are 100% FREE, and the festival has always been a family friendly event filled with activities for kids and adults alike.

The Elk Valley Pride Festival is hosted by the Fernie Pride Society, a non-profit organization that supports and connects the 2SLGBTQ+ community throughout the Elk Valley. Incorporated in 2016, the Society provides community programming, events and resource referrals throughout the region.

Event details, tickets and the full festival schedule are available at ferniepride.ca/festival. For media inquiries please contact Festival Coordination Olivia Latta at [email protected].

Vince Mo Photography image

Elk Valley Pride Festival

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