Last year over half-a-million people celebrated Pride in Vancouver, Canada. Attendance has skyrocketed ever since the Vancouver Pride Society expanded the parade route to include the city’s main shopping core closing down Robson, Vancouver’s busiest shopping street.
The 2009 Pride Parade will start in the heart of downtown Vancouver. The Parade begins at 12:00, Sunday August 2nd at Robson and Thurlow, heads West down the hill to Denman street, follows Denman to Pacific and Beach Avenue and finishes at the Sunset Beach Festival Site.
The Parade concludes at Sunset Beach where the Pride Festival is held on Sunday. Temperatures will be hot and they expect a crowd of 100,000 at Sunset Beach, in an area that is smaller than the Seattle Center, so plan accordingly.
More info at www.vancouverpride.ca.
On Friday, July 31, there is the Koodo’s Big Night Out Davie Street Party starting at 7pm. On Saturday, Bodybuilder, trainer and adult film legend Matthew Rush will be at Priape on Davie street from 5pm – 6pm signing autographs and meeting fans.
On Saturday night, lines to get into the bars will be long and slow; seriously slow. So plan to go out early. Odyssey has advance tickets at Little Sisters for $10 or it will cost you $15 at the door. Sunday is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. More info is here.
“Release Your Pride” at Celebrities Nightclub is $35 in advance with tickets at Little Sisters or Priape. On Sunday, Celebrities presents History VI and is open from 3pm – 4am. No cover until 9pm and $15 after 9pm.
Pulse Night Club has a special tribute to Seattle’s scene called Amped Pride from 10pm – 4am with DJs L.A. Kendall, Bret Law, Colby B and Vancouver’s resident DJ Dickey Doo. Featuring performances by The Children of The House Of Oppulence. Cover is $10 before 12am and $15 after.
If you happen to get shut out of the dance clubs because of the crowds, head up Davie street to 1181 (Tight Lounge) for a cool gay bar similar to Purr but a bit smaller. They are open till 3am with no cover.
But forget the bars, Vancouver is about their larger than life parties. Rapture 9 presents “Ignition” on Saturday with DJ Joe Gauthreaux ($65) and “Recovery” on Sunday with DJ Tony Moran ($75). I have been going to the Rapture events for nearly a decade and they are always hot. Last year they sold out and it looks like the $100 two event combo pass has sold out. More info at www.tfdpresents.com.
But you have choices. Big Roger Events presents Global Pride Parties:
Big Roger Events brings you the ultimate in Vancouver Gay Pride events including the largest and hottest dance party for Gay Pride: Global Pride. We are thrilled to be presenting a complete weekend as part of Vancouver Pride. Four incredible parties in three downtown locations with the biggest talent from around the world.
Global Pride presents “CITIES” on Friday July 31 (11pm – 7am) with DJ David Knapp (Miami) ($40), “NATIONS” on Saturday August 1 with DJ Brett Henrichsen (LA) with doors open at 9pm ($40), “GLOBAL” Sunday August 2 (9:30pm – 4am) with DJs Chus & Ceballos (Madrid) ($55) and “UNITED” Monday August 3 (2am – 10am) (Early Monday morning) with DJ Paulo (LA) ($50). For more info, visit www.bigrogerevents.com.
Update: Online tickets for the “Global Pride” events sold out soon after I posted this article. Tickets are now available in person only at Little Sisters and Priape up until 6pm the day of the event or until they sell out.
Prices listed are current for advance tickets before fees and taxes. Prices will be higher at the door. Of course all prices listed are in Canadian dollars but the exchange rate is not looking very good right now. The US dollar is at its weakest level in nearly ten months at just $1.08 Canadian.
Note: There is construction at the I-5 border crossing into Canada in anticipation of the Olympics so check other crossings for border wait times.
For more info about Vancouver Pride, visit www.vancouverpride.ca.
Update: Another event for Sunday August 2, 2009
Out For Kicks Soccer Club presents the Trouble Pride T-Dance from 3:30pm – 8pm at Maxine’s Hideaway in Vancouver, 1215 Bidwell at Davie street.
Get $15 tickets at Little Sisters by Friday July 31 or else $20 at the door:
