We have got you lined with our checklist of the most popular Satisfaction occasions occurring nationwide this summer season.
With assaults on the LGBTQIA2S+ neighborhood on the rise in Canada, Satisfaction feels as important as ever. This summer season, queer people and their allies will likely be gathering throughout the nation to guard their rights, uplift one another and have a good time queer pleasure. With so many occasions occurring in any respect hours of the day, FASHION has created the final word coast-to-coast Satisfaction 2023 calendar, so that you’ll by no means miss out on the motion.
RELATED: What to Put on to Satisfaction
We’ll be updating this checklist all summer season lengthy. However within the meantime, peruse our calendar of must-see Satisfaction occasions occurring in Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Vancouver and Montreal.
Toronto, Ont.
Lavender Wild
New this yr, Lavender Wild is a one-day pageant celebrating queerness. Musical performances embrace queer pop sensation Hayley Kioko and Juno nominee Shawnee Kish, plus drag from The Virgo Queen and Homosexual Jesus.
When: June 4, 2 p.m.
The place: Echo Seaside
Blockorama 25: Legacies
Blockorama has formally been across the block. Organized by Blackness, Sure! Blockorama is Satisfaction Toronto’s longest-running stage and this yr it turns 25. Born from the shortage of illustration for African, Black and Caribbean LGBTQ neighborhood members, Blockorama has put Black excellence on stage for greater than 20 years. This yr’s stage is headlined by Trinidadian singer Nadia Batson.
When: June 25, 2 p.m.
The place: 15 Wellesley St East
Satisfaction Promenade 2023: Outcast Paradise
Queer people expertise highschool in a different way from their heterosexual friends. Lately, queer proms have turn into a phenomenon, creating safer areas for queer youth to have a good time the tip of faculty — and themselves! — with different queer youth. This alcohol-free occasion is for 2SLGBTQ youth aged 21 and beneath.
When: June 20, 7 p.m.
The place: Buddies in Dangerous Occasions Theatre
Drag Ball
Hosted by native staples Sofonda and Ivory Towers, this annual out of doors drag extravaganza features a who’s-who of Drag Race expertise, from Sasha Colby to Miss Fiercalicous, Kimmy Couture, plus Dragula winner Landon Cider and Name Me Mom’s HercuSleaze.
When: June 24, 6 p.m.
The place: TD Foremost Stage (Nathan Phillips Sq.)
Alternaqueer: FLUID
The queerdos will likely be out in full drive for Alternaqueer, an annual Satisfaction staple that celebrates weird, outdoors the field drag and queer efficiency. Dragula’s Yovska is headlining together with performances from Craven Blood, Mx. Quest and Allysin Chaynes. This yr’s theme is FLUID, so carry a raincoat.
When: June 23, 7 p.m.
The place: Bud Gentle Wellesley Stage
Shut Up Flag!
West Finish efficiency collective Kunst Youngsters is celebrating flags, from hanky codes to the neighborhood’s ever-evolving set of Satisfaction flags. Performances by Full Blown Father, Angell Morana, MS. G and Delirios.
When: June 23, 10:30 p.m.
The place: The Child G
Chaotica
Hosted by drag queen and supermodel Bombae from Canada’s Drag Race, Chaotica is a efficiency artwork cabaret that pulls collectively drag, burlesque and queer messiness. That includes Miami Dolls star Fantasia Royale Gaga, Feather Talia, Homosexual Jesus, Cyril Cinder and extra. [Ed note: I’m stage managing and if you come, you’ll see me sweeping up feathers.]
When: June 24, 7 p.m.
The place: Buddies in Dangerous Occasions Theatre
Girl 5 In The Gap
Girl 5 is an evening all about taking an opportunity. It’s a drag competitors, however the organizers encourage the viewers to decorate up too. Hosted by Molly Farton with music by Toronto icon DJ Regina Gently and the entire night time is in assist of Rainbow Railroad.
When: June 8, 8 p.m.
The place: Buddies in Dangerous Occasions Theatre
Cherry Bomb
Regardless of being the most important metropolis in Canada, Toronto doesn’t have a single bar that caters particularly to queer girls. Cherry Bomb helps fill that void. It’s additionally a fully legendary celebration with a sweaty dance flooring filled with queer girls, trans and non-binary individuals, plus their pals and allies. This yr’s Satisfaction version options Cherry Bomb resident DJs Cozmic Cat and Denise Benson, plus DJ Sam from Montreal and extra.
When: The Axis Membership
The place: June 24, 9 p.m.
Sober Oasis
Satisfaction’s not all about partying: The Sober Oasis was created as a protected house for sober people at Satisfaction. The tent will host conferences, from 12-Step Teams to SMART Restoration, all through Satisfaction weekend.
When: June 23-25
The place: Paul Kane Parkette
Edmonton, Alta.
The Edmonton Satisfaction Competition takes place August 18 to 26 however the metropolis has a cascade of queer programming happening throughout June for Satisfaction month.
Edmonton Drag Competition
The Edmonton Drag Competition is like Coachella, however for drag in Alberta. It’ll characteristic a bunch of Canada’s Drag Race faves ncludingJada Shada Hudson, Anaquway and Chelazon Leroux are performing, together with rising Name Me Mom star Makayla Couture and a great deal of native expertise.
When: June 17, 11 a.m.
The place: Louise McKinney Riverfront Park
Edmonton Queer History Challenge Strolling Excursions
Edmonton Queer Historical past’s summer season strolling tour collection has three excursions throughout Satisfaction Month, together with a tour geared toward making a welcoming metropolis, a tour of town’s queer night time life historical past and a tour geared on the historical past of queer politics and protest in Edmonton. Go to the group’s Eventbrite for particulars about its full suite of summer season walks.
When: June 1, 5 p.m.
The place: Churchill Sq.
Satisfaction Nook on Whyte
The nook of 104 Avenue and Whyte Avenue, within the coronary heart of Outdated Strathcona, has been dominated by homophobic avenue preachers for years. For the previous two years, a gaggle of queers and allies have been assembly to drown out the hate with music, dancing, training and love. This Satisfaction, the group is asking queer people and allies to hitch them each Friday night time.
When: Each Friday in June (and ongoing)
The place: 104 St and Whyte Avenue intersection
Satisfaction Church Service
McDougall United Church has been offering same-gender unions since earlier than they had been acknowledged by Canada. For Satisfaction, the church is providing a particular sermon on Sunday, June 4, for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood full with a musical efficiency.
When: June 4, 10:30 a.m.
The place: McDougall United Church
2S Powwow
On August 24, the Edmonton Satisfaction Competition is about to co-host Alberta’s first ever 2-Spirit Powow in collaboration with the Indigi-Queer efficiency collective Indigi-Hauz Of Beaver Hills — a gaggle of drag artists that options “kings, queens and everything in between.”
When: August 24
The place: Churchill Sq.
Y2K
Edmonton queers are dialling the clock all the way in which again to a time when Electrical Circus dominated MuchMusic with a nostalgia-dipped ‘90s dance party, Y2K. The turn-of-the-century-style celebration is being headlined by Canada’s premiere eurodance group, Love Inc., and its most well-known cartoon duo, Prozzäk. Get able to scream “You’re a Superstar” and “Strange Disease” on the prime of your lungs.
When: August 25
The place: Churchill Sq.
Satisfaction @ Churchill Sq.
Satisfaction Edmonton’s large Saturday night time out of doors celebration options drag by Name Me Mom’s Pepper, plus a efficiency by Filipino-Canadian producer and performer Ronald Morrera (a licensed snack, examine their Instagram). The night time will likely be rounded out with Ria Mae, contemporary off the discharge of her new single ‘Please Don’t Go,’ and hometown heroes Stereos.
When: August 26
The place: Churchill Sq.
St. Albert, Alta.
Town of St. Albert has Satisfaction programming scheduled all through June.
Queer Promenade
Out Loud St. Albert is placing on a queer promenade for college students within the Albertan metropolis. The early night dance celebration is geared toward college students grades seven to 12 and can run till 11 p.m. The group is even offering hair and make-up assist for anybody who wants it or can’t prepare at house.
When: June 23, 7 p.m.
The place: TBA
Pancake Breakfast
The St. Albert Group Corridor is internet hosting a pride-themed pancake breakfast for early risers at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday June 18. Rainbow pancakes promise to be the star of the present.
When: June 18, 9 a.m.
The place: 17 Perron St. St Albert, AB
Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.
Fort Saskatchewan Satisfaction Week is June 9 to 16. Fort Sask Satisfaction contains an All Our bodies Swim, drag bingo and a HIV well being care suppliers workshop. Get the total calendar of occasions right here.
Halifax, N.S.
Final yr’s Satisfaction festivities in Halifax included a captivating mixture of occasions from friendship pace relationship to a BBQ for queer refugees, comedy and drag reveals and even a stroll for queer canine house owners. Then in late 2022, Halifax Satisfaction posted after which deleted an announcement that Satisfaction 2023 wouldn’t be occurring. In accordance with reporting in The Coast, what adopted included claims of office abuse, adjustments to the board of administrators adopted and a “smoulder of gossip” that “became wildfire.”
Final month Halifax Satisfaction issued a press launch that Satisfaction will, in actual fact, happen this summer season from July 20 to 30, however didn’t present any occasion particulars. The group is, nonetheless, internet hosting a neighborhood assembly on June 2 to reply questions in regards to the pageant.
Vancouver. B.C.
The west coast’s greatest Satisfaction celebration, Vancouver Satisfaction, takes place August 5 to six. The total programming lineup is TBA, however the Vancouver Satisfaction Society simply introduced a brand new parade route and per week of wellness occasions in June.
Queering Intercourse Schooling
The standard of intercourse training Canadians obtain as college students varies wildly and analysis has proven queer youth discover it troublesome to entry sexual well being info that’s related to them and their sexual lives and futures. To unfold neighborhood information, the Satisfaction Society and The Allura Centre are internet hosting a workshopwith a counsellor, Daniel Oommen, on matters starting from the spectrum of kinds of consent, self-pleasure, want and pleasure-focused intercourse.
When: June 4, 1 p.m.
The place: cmmngrnd.ca
QTBIPOC Meditation
Cmm Grnd, a health and social wellness collective, can be internet hosting a night of guided meditation with Eman Salem, an empowerment coach who’s additionally a documentary producer (one in all their movies was simply on the Seattle Black Movie Competition). The occasion’s goal is to offer QTBIPOC people an area to relaxation, heal and be in neighborhood.
When: June 8, 8 p.m.
The place: cmmngrnd.ca
Satisfaction Parade
Vancouver’s annual Satisfaction parade is the pageant’s signature occasion and usually pulls in additional than 100,000 attendees. This yr the Vancouver Satisfaction Society is hoping to tug much more from throughout British Columbia and past with a brand new, extra accessible parade route, 12 hosts, three accessible viewing zones and a particular VIP space.
When: August 6
The place: Davie Avenue and Denman Avenue
Montreal, Que.
Fierté Montréal, simply one of many nation’s greatest Satisfaction festivals with attendance within the tens of millions, takes place August 3 to 13.
A Household Affair Kiki Ball
This Kiki Ball is a celebration of all types of household, from beginning to chosen – and even well-known households from popular culture. Trophies and money prizes are each up for grabs.
When: August 5
The place: Le Membership Soda
The Aesthetic Activism of ACT UP MONTRÉAL
Montreal was a hub of HIV/AIDS activism within the early Nineties and the location of a monumental protest within the motion in 1989. Homosexual rights activism and photographer René LeBoeuf, who was additionally a significant participant within the struggle for marriage equality in Quebec, documented the peak of HIV/AIDS activism in Montreal and his images from these years will likely be on show together with banners and indicators from protests all through Satisfaction at Québec’s Homosexual Archives.
When: Opening August 4
The place: Archives Gaies du Québec
The Excessive Heels Impediment Race
Prepared, set, strut! A flock of drag queens are getting dolled as much as compete in a sure-to-be hilarious impediment race in assist of RÉZO, a longstanding native non-profit neighborhood group that helps LGBTQ+ males.
When: August 7
The place: Sainte Catherine Avenue East, between Alexandre DeSève and de Champlain streets
Drag Superstars
Headlined by Quebecois drag icon Rita Baga, this occasion options laundry checklist of fan favourites from Drag Race like Aquaria, Kerri Colby and Heidi N Closet, two Canada’s Drag Race winners – Icesis Couture and Gisèle Lullaby – and prime tier drag king expertise like Quebec’s personal Will Charmer and Dragula winner Landon Cider.
When: August 10, 6 p.m.
The place: Esplanade du Parc Olympique, Scène TD
Satisfaction Parade
Fierté’s parade runs a virtually three kilometre stretch from town’s former 2SLGBTQIA+ neighbourhood within the west finish downtown Montreal to the guts of the present village within the east.
When: August 13 1 p.m.
The place: Boulevard René-Lévesque
Afro Satisfaction
This yr’s Afro Satisfaction, which takes the type of a bit of the parade, is a particular tribute version honouring Carifiesta, town’s annual Caribbean Carnival. The queer honouring of the Carifiesta comes after the carnival introduced it might not happen in 2023 on account of funding points.
When: August 13 1 p.m.
The place: Boulevard René-Lévesque
Whitehorse, Yukon
Yukon Satisfaction is cut up throughout three cities over the course of a month, kick off in Dawson Metropolis from July 27 to 30, then Whitehorse from August 5 to 13 and, lastly, Watson Lake on August 26. The total schedule is TBA, however Queer Yukon is promising parades and picnics in all three cities, a pop-up Queer Café, musical performances and extra. There’s even a Satisfaction Parade Bike Float Making Workshop in Whitehorse on August 1.
Satisfaction Dance Occasion
Canada’s Drag Race star Ilona Verley is headlining this dance celebration, which additionally options performers from the IndigiHauz of Beaver Hillz, DJ SNAXX and Josephine. In the event you’re not an early riser, Verley’s additionally performing the following morning at an all ages brunch at The Legion.
When: August 12 9 p.m.
The place: The Native Bar
Queers & Beers
Winterlong Brewing Co. is internet hosting a Satisfaction patio celebration for queers and their allies with a particular restricted version Rainbow Brilliant craft brew.
When: August 10, 6:30 p.m.
The place: Winterlong Brewing Co.
Saskatoon, Sask.
Satisfaction Saskatoon takes place all through all of June, with occasions starting from a queer artwork exhibit to pull reveals, dance events and mini garden bowling.
What Is Love?
Dance Combine ’95 was a near-perfect assortment of songs. The MuchMusic compilation album opens with Whigfield’s “Saturday Night” and closes with Haddaway’s “What Is Love,” taking the listener on a journey via a capsule of mid-90s dance historical past. The album is the inspiration for this celebration, which is serving up metropolis views and an open bar.
When: June 1, 6 p.m.
The place: The Winter Backyard at Nutrien Tower
Fabulous Feathers
There’s loads of peacocking at any Satisfaction pageant, however solely Satisfaction Saskatoon would have an precise chicken stroll. Hosted by a pair of queer birders, Ryan Bradshaw and Ryan Dudragne (sure, they’re adorably each named Ryan). It’s BYOB — carry your individual binoculars.
When: June 11, 8:30 a.m.
The place: Donna Birkmaier Park
Victoria. B.C.
Victoria Satisfaction hosts occasions from June 29 to July 9.
Memorial Drag Ball Recreation
This annual occasion has turn into one in all Victoria Satisfaction’s signatures over time, with its roots relationship again to 1993 when a gaggle of pals received collectively to distract themselves from the neighborhood mourning of the HIV/AIDS disaster. The occasion now attracts as much as 1,000 attendees and an entire new technology of followers and drag performers.
When: July 1, 11 a.m.
The place: Victoria West Park off Wilson Avenue
Massive Homosexual Canine Stroll
The proper occasion for any queer with a four-legged good friend. The Massive Homosexual Canine Stroll is precisely that – an opportunity to walk along with your pup and meet different canine house owners locally. Prizes for greatest costume and greatest trick are up for grabs.
When: July 8, 4:30
The place: Clover Level
Ottawa, Ont.
Capital Satisfaction / Fierté dans la Capitale takes place from August 19 to 27. The group has but to announce its Satisfaction lineup, but it surely’s internet hosting a Satisfaction drag present in June.
Rejoice Satisfaction with Marcia Marcia Marcia
Drag Race star Marcia Marcia Marcia is headlining Ottawa’s pre-Satisfaction bash together with Name Me Mom’s Kiki Coe, Mx. Capital Satisfaction 2020 Jelly and TikTok sensation Saltina Shaker.
When: June 17
The place: The Bronson Centre Music Theatre
Winnipeg, Man.
Winnipeg helps kick off Canada’s Satisfaction season. The pageant has already begun and runs via June 4.
Satisfaction Hike
Backcountry Girls are placing the “out” in outside with their Satisfaction Hike. The group has organized a beginner-friendly 1.5 hour hike open to all corners of the 2SLGBTQ+ neighborhood. Snacks and a fireplace to observe!
When: June 1, 6:15 p.m.
The place: Birds Hill Provincial Park
Miss Membership 200 Alumni Satisfaction Spectacular
Membership 200 has been the guts of Winnipeg’s queer neighborhood since 1988 and alongside the way in which has topped many native rising stars as Miss Membership 200. On the Friday of Satisfaction weekend, alumni from the pageant dazzle the always-packed crowd.
When: June 2, 10 p.m.
The place: Membership 200
The Sundown Satisfaction Lounge
Gorge Competition and Cluster Competition have teamed up as soon as once more for 20213 Satisfaction programming that options musician Zaki Ibrahim alongside native legends like Purple Haze and Zoleil Midowne.
When: June 2 7:30 p.m.
The place: The Forks Room 201
Gimli, Man.
This small, lake-side city in Manitoba hosts a one-day Satisfaction pageant yearly. This yr festivities all through city happen June 10.
Satisfaction Gimli Drag Present & Dance Occasion
Headlined by Breyanna Burlesque and Poison I.V., Cyan Hyde, and Miss Membership 200 2022/23 Zova, this celebration guarantees drag, dancing and bar video games.
When: June 10, 9 p.m.
The place: Ship and Plough Tavern
