Windsor Essex Pride Festival

Show your PRIDE at Windsor-Essex’s most colourful event!

The 2024 Windsor-Essex Pride Fest Parade will be held Sunday, August 11, 2024 at 11:00am.

Held since 1992 and celebrating 32 years, our annual PRIDE FEST PARADE will be held during the WINDSOR-ESSEX PRIDE FEST at Lanspeary Park on Ottawa Street in Windsor, Ontario. The parade and festival are attended by the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, their allies, friends, family, and supporters. Our festival focuses on bringing all different segments and groups together to celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and its accomplishments

Whether you’re a business, organization or group wanting to show your support by marching in the parade, all are welcome to apply!

 

Event schedule:

PRIDE FEST FLAG RAISING

FRIDAY AUGUST 2, 2024 / 1:00PM

Windsor-Essex Pride Fest, now in its 32nd year, invites you to join us for the annual Flag Raising Ceremony that kicks off our festival each year, this symbolic event brings to light why our annual festival of diversity is so important to the 2SLGBTQIA community.

The ceremony will take place on Friday, August 2, 2024 at 1:00 pm at City Hall Square to celebrate the official opening of the Windsor-Essex Pride Fest. The event is MC’d by Windsor’s own Mel Lucier, featuring guest speakers along with Windsor-Essex Pride Fest Board of Directors, local dignitaries, community leaders, allies, supporters and our 2SLGBTQIA community as we come together to show their support for this important community, cultural and tourist attraction in Windsor and Essex County.

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PRIDE SHABBAT DINNER

FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2024 9:00PM – 2:00AM

WINDSOR JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTRE 1641 OUELLETE AVENUE

Join us for our second year celebrating Pride and intersectionality at our Pride Shabbat Dinner; which is happening on Friday, August 2, 2024, from 5:30pm to 8:00 pm.

This Shabbat dinner is an opportunity to bring together Jewish and non-Jewish 2SLGBTQIA+ community members and allies as we celebrate the intersections within our Jewish and Pride communities. Pride Shabbat includes a vegetarian dinner, drinks, special guests and more. Money should never be a barrier to access, If you would like to come, we want you there. Please reach out to Joe Schnayer at [email protected]

Presented in partnership with Windsor Pride Fest, the Jewish Federation of Windsor, and the Windsor Jewish 2SLGBTQIA+ Pride Committee.

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PRIDE DISCO

SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 2024 9:00PM – 2:00AM

DISCO INFERNO, 670 OUELLETTE AVENUE

Come out and join Windsor-Essex Pride Fest for a night and celebrate Pride Week in Windsor-Essex at Disco Inferno. Dress to impress with retro outfits, costumes and more and get on that dance floor. Proceeds from this event benefit Windsor-Essex Pride Fest and its programs for the community. This is a 19 years+ age event

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PRIDE DRAG LUNCH

SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2024 / 12:00PM – 2:30PM

THE BULL & BARREL, 670 OUELLETTE AVENUE

Join us for the PRIDE DRAG LUNCH presented by Windsor-Essex Pride Fest and 93.9 Virgin Radio! Hosted by 93.9 Virgin Radio’s Hanna & Jonny, get ready for a fabulous lunch filled with delicious food and jaw-dropping performances by our amazing drag queens Liquorice and Epoxy. Join us on Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 12:00pm – 2:30pm at Bull & Barrel Urban Salon for a celebration of love, diversity, and inclusivity. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable event as we raise money for Windsor-Essex Pride Fest programs.

Tickets for the lunch are $30.00 includes tax, gratuity plus processing fee and includes admission, choice of menu item and drag show.

(Regular drinks and alcoholic drinks must be purchased separately at the venue and tax and gratuity will be charged)

Brunch tickets and menu items available online only

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Art Jam Pride

Tuesday, AUGUST 6, 2024 / 12:00PM – 2:30PM

ARTCITE, 109 UNIVERSITY AVENUE WEST 

Join us at Artcite Inc. on Tuesday, August 6, from 2:00pm–8:00pm for Art Jam Pride: a free art-making event in preparation for the pride parade! Art Jam Pride is a fun and friendly opportunity to express your creativity and craft buttons, signs, posters, and artworks to show your support and spread love at this year’s parade. All ages are welcome, and participation is free. Stay as long as you’d like, and make whatever you’d like. We’ll provide the materials; you bring the creativity! In partnership with Vanguard Youth Arts Collective (Arts Council Windsor & Region) and Windsor-Essex Pride Fest.

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QUEER’D EAR

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2024 / 7:30PM – 12:30AM

ARTCITE, 109 UNIVERSITY AVENUE WEST 

Celebrate Windsor-Essex Pride Fest with Queer’d Ear, a DJ workshop and cross-border dance party presented by CJAM 99.1 FM, Artcite Inc. and Windsor-Essex Pride Fest!
Join us at Artcite Inc. on Wednesday, August 7, starting at 7:30pm for a free, two-part event featuring Detroit-based DJs Duck Trash and Garrison XR. Dive into the beats and learn fundamental DJing skills at our interactive workshop from 7:30-9:30pm, followed immediately by a high-energy dance party from 9:30–midnight! This event is all ages and promises to be a vibrant night of music, creativity, and community. Don’t miss out on the fun and festivities!

BOWL WITH PRIDE 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2024 / 7:00PM 

ROSEBOWL LANES, 2482 DOUGALL AVENUE 

It’s time to dust off those old bowling shoes, shine up that ball, and head on down to Rosebowl Lanes for the annual PRIDE FEST BOWLING NIGHT on Thursday, August 8, 2024. Doors will open promptly at 6:15 pm, with games starting strictly at 7:00 pm. Meet your friends for two FREE games of bowling and enjoy prizes, raffles, and more!

Bar and food will be available for purchase. Please be aware that there are only so many lanes for everyone so space is limited on a first come, first serve basis. Donations to the Windsor-Essex Pride Fest will be extremely appreciated and will assist in funding the festival.

 

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IN YOUR POCKET: A PORTRAIT OF US

THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2024 7:00PM – 9:00PM

ARTCITE, 109 UNIVERSITY AVENUE WEST

Join us at Artcite Inc. on Thursday, August 8, 2024 from 7:00pm–9:00pm for a special screening of In Your Pocket: Portrait of Us, a collection of short films by LGBTQ+ creators. Delving into its rich archive, RT Collective has reorganized its past thematic programs, playfully cutting, pasting, and selecting works from over 10 years to create a program that showcases the funny, the sexy, the poetic, and the quotidian aspects of queer life.

Founded in 2013, RT Collective is a curatorial platform supporting the creation and dissemination of contemporary art. Working with a fluctuating team of curators, collaborators, artists, and institutions, we present screenings, exhibitions, and performances, produce catalogues and other small-scale publications, and host panel discussions, artist talks, and workshops.

In Your Pocket is a screening series of short works by queer artists created using smartphones, tablets, and webcams. The project aims to connect contemporary artists with the spirit of early queer creators, who often worked with the accessible technologies of their day, including Super 8 film and VHS video.

Presented by RT Collective, Artcite and Windsor-Essex Pride Fest

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UNITED DANCE PARTY

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024 8:00PM – 12:00AM

LANSPEARY PARK, OTTAWA STREET, WINDSOR

Join Windsor-Essex Pride Fest on Friday, August 9, 2024 from 8:00pm – 12:00am for the UNITED Dance Party!

UNITED Dance Party is an event taking place at Lanspeary Park in the arena for our community, our friends/allies and we cannot wait to come together in celebration of PRIDE in our community!

Come out, show your colours and dance to the beats of DJ Kevin Bailey and special performances by Lua, Mercury Retrograde, Angelina Lepore, Hudson Bae and B. Martini.

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LOLGBTQ+ COMEDY

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024

8:00PM – 10:00PM

WINDSOR COMEDY CLUB, 89 UNIVERSITY AVENUE WEST

Join us for a night of joy and pride at the **LGBT Pride Fest Comedy Night**! Featuring a lineup of hilarious LGBTQ+ comedians, this special event is all about celebrating diversity, love, and laughter. Come and enjoy an evening of top-notch comedy in a welcoming and inclusive environment

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RUN FOR ROCKY

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2024 10:00AM

DIEPPE GARDENS, WINDSOR

Run for Rocky Legacy Project has partnered with Windsor-Essex Pride Fest to host the Run for Rocky Event on Pride Fest weekend. The 5 km Run/3 km Walk will take place on Saturday, August 10th beginning at 10:00 am at Dieppe Gardens. Complimentary shuttles will take participants to Lanspeary Park where the Run for Rocky After Party will begin at 11:30 am featuring live auction, entertainment as well as winner and total funds raised announcements. The Run for Rocky Run/Walk will continue to fund local GSA funding and will additionally support Windsor’s LGBTQ+ agencies. A portion of the funds raised through this year’s R4R event will also be donated to the Windsor Pride Community, Windsor-Essex Pride Fest, and Trans Wellness Ontario. The cohesive effort of all of these agencies working together ensures that our LGBTQ+ community and their families in this region are supported by strong services that meet the needs of the community.

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PRIDE ART AUCTION

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2024 SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 2024

LANSPEARY PARK, OTTAWA STREET

The Run for Rocky Legacy Project has been generously given 70 one of a kind pieces from the Modesto Collection of Artwork. This collection will be auctioned at a Pride Art . Modesto Ingratta who was born and raised in Leamington Ontario and has lived in Toronto since the 70’s will be on hand to meet guests and discuss his artwork.

The Pride ART Auction will take place on Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11 from 11:00am – 5:00pm with all proceeds going to the Run for Rocky Legacy Project, Windsor-Essex Pride Fest, Windsor Pride Community and Transwellness Ontario.

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PRIDE IN THE PARK

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 2024 11:00AM – 6:00PM

LANSPEARY PARK, OTTAWA STREET, WINDSOR

Windsor-Essex Pride Fest will host ‘PRIDE IN THE PARK” as part of its annual festival in August. The event will be held on Saturday, August 10, 2019 with over 65 merchant and non-profit booths full of unique products, services and food & beverage sold by individual vendors.

This event will feature live music and entertainment from David Faulkner, Hawaii Goodvibes, Alysia Therrien, Chappus & Neuman, The Painted October and Drag Storytime & Science Hour with D Ann Eh. The park events will be followed by Queens of Pride in the arena from 8:00pm – 12:00am.

Donations for the event will be accepted and will benefit the Windsor-Essex Pride Fest and its year round social programming.

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QUEENS OF PRIDE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10 / 8:00PM

LANSPEARY PARK, OTTAWA STREET, WINDSOR

Windsor-Essex Pride Fest presents “Queens Of Pride” in partnership with support from Lavender Promotions. Hosted by AM800’s Dan MacDonald, this fantastic ensemble featuring Trinity the Tuck from Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season 9 and All Stars Season 4 Winner along with Aimee Yonce Shennel from Canada’s Drag Race Season 4.

Also featuring special performances from a ton of queens including Vanity Affair, Lena Di, Star, Benz Menova, Epoxy and Venom Von Snaps. Queens of Pride is an all-ages event, those 16 years of age or under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian, and viewer discretion is advised.

The event will also feature a cash bar, food, merchant vendor marketplace, activities, and much more. Over 60 vendors will have everything from apparel to gifts, art to food and beverage.

General Admission: $20 / VIP: $40.

VIP admission ticket includes front stage seating, VIP souvenir pass, photo with artist and signed souvenir poster. Limited capacity

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GLITTERBALL

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10 / 10:00PM

WATER’S EDGE EVENT CENTRE 2979 RIVERSIDE DRIVE EAST

Come and feast your eyes on a world of glitter and sparkly surprises at Glitterball! The event will take place Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 10:00 pm at The Watersedge Event Centre. Enjoy music to get you dancing by DJ Josh Karmin featuring special performances by Van Goth, Dulce, Liquorice supporting dancers and pole dancing by Elixia.

We welcome you to join us for what promises to be a liberating night to celebrate all things queer in Windsor-Essex. This event is for 19 years of age or older. Prizes for best-themed costumes. Tickets are $20.00 online in advance and $25.00 at the door.

 

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WINDSOR-ESSEX PRIDE FEST PARADE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11 / 11:00AM

OTTAWA STREET, WINDSOR

SHOW YOUR COLOURS at Windsor-Essex’s most colourful event! Held since 1992 and 32 years later, our annual Windsor-Essex Pride Fest Parade will be held during the Windsor-Essex Pride Fest at Lanspeary Park on Ottawa Street in Windsor, Ontario on Sunday, August 11, 2024 at 11:00 am beginning at Argyle Road (Market Square) and proceeds down Ottawa Street to Lanspeary Park. The parade and festival are attended by the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, their allies, friends, family, and supporters. Our festival focuses on bringing all different segments and groups together to celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and its accomplishments while raising awareness of ongoing challenges including discrimination, exclusion, harassment, and assault. We really do offer something for everyone, and this family-friendly event should not be missed. Grab brunch on a patio and watch the excitement stroll by, or better yet, round up some friends and be part of this terrific event.

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PRIDE DAY

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11 / 12:00PM

LANSPEARY PARK, OTTAWA STREET

Show your PRIDE at Windsor-Essex’s most colourful event! After our fabulous pride parade is done, join us at Lanspeary Park with Detroit’s Drag Royalty Sabin and Windsor’s Comedy Queen Mel Lucier as the official co-hosts for Pride Day!

PRIDE DAY will feature live performances from Sabin, Alisabeth Von Presley, Nikki Holland & The Dirty Elizabeths, Carly Thomas, Saints Down, Subrina Kink, Aurora Boré Alice, Daisy, Dawn Key and Mina Georgina.

The event will also feature 65 vendors including apparel to gifts, art to food and beverage, activities, and much more.