Western Canada's largest city and a longtime center of gay activism, Vancouver hosts a terrific Gay Pride Parade and Festival in early August, although it comprises a series of events held over the six weeks leading up to the final weekend. The official festivities take place Sunday, August 4, 2013, the day of the Annual Pride Parade and Festival. A vast array of concerts, parties, lectures, boat cruises, art exhibitions, and similarly enticing events take place during the days leading up to the parade and festival, so check the Vancouver Pride online event calendar for details. In recent years, Vancouver Gay Pride has drawn more than 500,000 participants.
Many other related events take place in Vancouver this summer, including the Vancouver Queer Film Festival (enjoying its 25th anniversary in 2013), the Vancouver Queer Arts Festival, and the Leather Pride and Leather Fetish parites.
Book rooms and compare rates on hotels in Vancouver during Gay Pride.
Many gay bars as well as gay-popular restaurants, hotels, and shops have special events and parties throughout Pride Week, and the beautiful Vancouver gay beaches will also be packed with revelers. Check local gay papers, such as Xtra West, for details, as well as OutCity Northwest, which has recommendations on gay travel in Vancouver. Also check out Tourism Vancouver outstanding site welcoming gay and lesbian visitors.
