Beacon Park's bandshell was transformed into a vibrant hub of celebration on Saturday, June 14, as thousands gathered for the fifth annual Sidney Pride Festival.
The event, renowned for its vibrant and inclusive atmosphere, once again brought the community together for a day of unity and celebration.
"It’s our second year down at the park and it's pretty amazing," remarked an enthusiastic Lauren Powell, festival president. "It is growing in a way that makes us happy."
This year's theme, "Disco," was fully embraced, with dazzling drag performances filling the waterfront park with music and dance.
The air buzzed with energy as performers took to the stage, entertaining crowds of all ages.
Local vendors lined the grassy lawn, offering a diverse array of food, art and educational resources.
Sidney Pride has carved out a unique identity for itself amongst the many Pride festivals in the Greater Victoria area.
"We've been to a lot of Pride events and this has been the most family-oriented," shared Leslie Haber, a resident who cycled all the way from Victoria with her partner, Kyla Tuttle. "And it’s right by the water, so it’s beautiful and so fun to see all the drag artists and all the kids enjoy the story."
Tuttle emphasized the significance of children being actively involved in Sidney Pride.
"If this kind of celebration had been around and I had attended as a kid, it would have made things much easier for me as I came to understand my own queer identity," she explained.
The festivities kicked off at 11 a.m. and included a packed schedule of drag performances, drag story time, artisan booths, a dedicated kids zone with face painting and a variety of food trucks.
Families came in droves, some with young children, and others with their adult children.
Claudio, sitting on the grass near the stage alongside Victoria drag performer Sylvester Stalletto, proudly declared, "I feel so proud of my daughter, I support her and I’m her number one fan."
Stallato expressed her immense gratitude for her father's unwavering support."
Having my dad here means so much," she said. "He's so well known in our community in Victoria that people call him Papa Staletto, and it means so much to me."
The artist says "it's very common for Latino queer and trans kids not to have their parents in their life."
"And the fact that my dad at the age of 67, comes to all my shows – it doesn't happen a lot in our community and it doesn't happen for queer kids – it's one in a million," she added.
Following the daytime celebrations, the party continued at Small God's Brewery with a disco-themed after-party.
The festival drew to a close with a powerful moment of unity.
Allies and members of the LGBTQIA+ community alike rose to their feet and danced to Sister Sledge’s iconic anthem, ‘We Are Family,’ marking the end of another Sidney Pride Festival filled with acceptance, support and community spirit.
