It was an exciting opening weekend with a fabulous line-up of events kicking off Banff Pride, being held September 30 – October 10, 2022, in the glorious Canadian Rocky Mountains. Here are the highlights from the first weekend of Banff Pride, and what you can expect for the second half of Banff Pride. It’s not too late to attend!
Banff Pride Hoe-down at Warner Stables
There were sparkling rhinestones, tapping heels, and dosie-dough’s at the Banff Pride Hoe-Down last Friday night, as Banff Pride celebrated its opening event at Warner Stables.
Magical fairy lights and Pride flags decorated the space, while a talented line-up of entertainment performed throughout the night.
Performers included Alberta’s top queer country talent, including Amy Hef, Robert Adam, and Calgary Cabaret. The event was hosted by Calgary’s most naked drag queen, Karla Marks.
Indigiqueer: The Mountain Top Drag Show
From the top of Sulphur Mountain, overlooking Banff, the Bow Valley, and with scenic views of the Rocky Mountains, queer Indigenous drag queens took to the stage on Saturday late afternoon to showcase their creative talents.
Diversity and inclusion is a key pillar for Banff Pride, and these reigning Indigenous drag queens from Western Canada put on a spectacular show as a tribute to their heritage and culture.
It was a fun event entrenched with education and typical drag queen attitude, with a family-friendly spirit. A portion of the Banff Gondola lift tickets were donated by Pursuit to LGBTQ+ organizations in the region.
The Corey Hotline Concert at Bowl Valley
On Sunday evening Bowl Valley at the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel hosted a delicious night of rock and bowl.
The Corey Hotline, a Calgary-based garage rock band, featuring the vocals of Mason Jenkins, bass by Blake McLeod, and Cat Niamh Alcorn on the drums, pounded out a series of their favorite songs.
The Cabaret Calgary performed a number of burlesque shows throughout the night. In addition to the great entertainment, attendees enjoyed food, drinks, and classic 5-pin Canadian bowling.
Pride House and Market
Banff pride is a celestial experience of diversity. The pride market celebrates 2SLGBTQ+ artists of the Bow Valley. There is everything from soaps and stickers to silk scarfs and baked goods on offer. Services from local and regional community organizations are also available. The Pride House and Market are located in the lower level of the Mason Hall, which will be open throughout the day on October 8 and 9.
Taste the Rainbow – Pride Cocktails
Over a dozen venues throughout Banff are offering featuring Pride-themed cocktails and deserts to celebrate Banff Pride. $1 from the sale of each cocktail or dessert sold is being donated to 2SLGBTQ+ organization in the region. Get out and Taste the Rainbow this weekend in Banff, and help raise additional funds for great causes.
Banff Pride events throughout the week
Throughout the week there were a number of events, including the Pride March through the streets of downtown Banff, a speaker series, yoga, rock climbing, and monkey pox clinics.
Banff Pride Continues This Weekend
You can still join in the fun this weekend at Banff Pride. With more great weather forecasted, it will be a spectacular weekend to getaway to celebrate Pride and enjoy the autumn season in the mountains.
Here’s a look at a few of the highlighted events this coming weekend:
- Friday Night Kiki
- Mountain top drag show
- Pride Party featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race legend, Plastique Tiara, and Canada’s Drag Race stars Kendall Gender and Synthia Kiss.
- Pride Market
- Drag Brunch featuring RuPaul’s Drag Race legend, Plastique Tiara, and Canada’s Drag Race stars Kendall Gender and Synthia Kiss.
Tickets for these and other events are limited, and it’s strongly recommended to get your tickets in advance; some events may already be sold out. There are additional events planned for this weekend and the full list of events is on the Banff Pride website.
Plan Your Trip to Banff and Lake Louise in the Canadian Rocky Mountains
Now that you have been inspired to attend Banff Pride, it’s time to start planning your visit to Banff and Lake Louise.
It is a place where the elements that make it one of the world’s most sought-after travel destinations all come together as one — where legendary tales of adventure and exploration live on, and where every season has its own fairy-tale feel.
Founded by railway workers who discovered hot springs while on a hike, Banff was the first national park in Canada, established in 1885.
Today, it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is prime real estate for some of the best skiing and outdoor winter adventure in North America.
Start planning your trip to Banff and Lake Louise now!
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