Pride kicks into high gear across Waterloo Region this weekend

June is Pride Month, and Waterloo Region will be celebrating along with the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

While events began earlier in the week, one of the biggest is happening Saturday in Victoria Park in Kitchener.

SummerFest presented by Tri-Pride will take over the park starting at noon. Throughout the day, there will be live music, drag performances, a massive Kidz Zone, food trucks, a beer garden and dozens of vendors.

Kamil Ahmed, director of entertainment for Tri-Pride Community Association told 570 NewsRadio, SummerFest is more than just a big party.

“For us, this day is about making sure folks in our community feel like they have a space to go where they can practice their authentic identity and where they can really lean into queer-joy over the span of eight hours.”

Ahmed says it’s not cliché to say SummerFest will truly have something for everyone.

“If you’re looking for something a little bit more mellow, you’ll get it. If you’re looking for a DJ who’s going to hype you up, you’ll get it. If you’re looking bag bagpipes, you’ll get it. If you’re looking for drag queens, you’ll get it. If you’re looking for drag kings, you’ll get it. If you’re looking for drag creatures, you’ll get it.”

Bryan Causarano-Bolton, cofounder of Grand River Pride, said his organization will be hosting events throughout the weekend and all next week, culminating in a massive street party in downtown Galt.

“It’s happening on June 14th from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., right on Main Street and Water Street in downtown Cambridge. It’s our premier event, and we have a whole bunch of things lined up for it.”

Over 50 vendors will be on hand, along with three food trucks. There will be live music throughout the day and drag performances, including appearances from some former contestants on RuPaul’s Drag Race. There will also be great events for kids.

Causarano-Bolton said inclusion is truly the name of the game.

“That’s what I think the big message is this year, is that everyone is welcome. There is a place for everyone. Everyone should be celebrated, everyone should be respected and we hope that message will be seen by everyone, including the folks at city hall.”

He added that none of these events would happen without the support of the community. A small group of volunteers isn’t enough to get events like these off the ground. He said, “We couldn’t do this if we didn’t have so many people in the community standing up to do something.”

Both men agree that while Pride is undoubtedly a celebration, its significance goes well beyond that.

“We’re really excited to stand in solidarity with folks in our community who are coming up against global genocide. We’re really excited to stand in solidarity to folks speaking to all the ways queer folks and others are impacted by the housing crisis,” said Ahmed.

“Pride has always been political and will be on Saturday,” he added, going on to say, “Pride is a protest.”