© Alison Slattery
Fifteen major free shows showcasing more than 150 artists will entertain revelers at this summer’s 17th edition of the Montréal Pride Festival, on the Esplanade of the Olympic Park as its main site, as well as in the Gay Village and downtown.
The parade
Following the cancellation of Montréal Pride’s 2022 parade, this summer marks the return of their parade downtown. The 2.9 km long route along René-Levesque Boulevard from Meltcalfe to Alexandre-DeSève streets symbolically begins in the former Gay Village in the downtown west end on Sunday, August 13, at 1 pm and winds down in the heart of the current Village in the east.
“Last year, under challenging circumstances, the communities claimed loud and clear that pride is inextinguishable,” says Fierté Montréal Executive Director Simon Gamache. “We are back with a strong edition which, we hope, will meet their aspirations.”
The story of Pride in Montreal over the past 45 years has been a long and winding road. The festival remains a favourite of many well-known Montrealers.
Do not forget to observe the minute of silence during the parade at 2:30 pm, to honour those lost to anti-LGBTQ+ violence and HIV/AIDS.
© Fierté Montréal
Community Days
This year Montréal Pride hosts two Community Days on August 11 and 12. During Community Days, kiosks for the many exciting organizations, community groups and sports teams catering to the LGBTQ+ communities will line the Sainte-Catherine Street pedestrian mall between Saint-Hubert and Papineau streets in the Village, daily from 11 am to 6 pm.
Opening and closing concerts
The Opening Ceremony at Jardins Gamelin on August 3 will feature Indigenous artists, followed by a free dance party in collaboration with the Glitterbomb collective. The Me joke-tu? comedy show at the Théatre National in the Village hosted by Acadian drag artists Sami Landri and Chiquita Mére will showcase local queer comics.
August 9 marks the opening of the festival’s main site on the Olympic Park’s Esplanade with the show ImmiX on the TD Stage featuring Édith Butler and Joe Bocan among others. That same evening on the Loto-Québec Stage, the famed 14-piece chamber pop ensemble Queer Songbook Orchestra will perform with guests Safia Nolin and Martha Wainwright.
Following the post-parade Mega T-Dance, the Closing Show on the Esplanade of the Olympic Park on August 13 will highlight 2023 Juno Award-winning Montréal queer singer-songwriter RÊVE.
© Drag superstar
Drag superstars
Drag artists from around the world will perform at various shows, including at the free Drag Superstars outdoor show on August 10 hosted by Montréal’s very own Rita Baga, with guests from various RuPaul’s Drag Race franchises: Jimbo, Gisèle Lullaby, Icesis Couture, Aquaria, Yvie Oddly, Heidi N Closet, Alexis Mateo, Envy Peru, Drag Couenne, as well as other famous drag artists.
Drag kings Rock Bière and RV Metal host the free MajestiX outdoor show on August 12 featuring local drag artists.
© Barbada de Barbades
Montréal drag legend Barbada de Barbades hosts Pride Party with Barbada and Friends at Le National Theatre on August 5.
Showcasing diversity
Other concerts and events include FeminiX celebrating sexually- and gender-diverse women (August 10); Xcellence celebrates the QTBIPOC communities (August 11); and DistinXion features queer South African music star Nahkane and trans multidisciplinary artist Vivek Shraya (August 11).
Click here for a complete listing of all Montréal Pride events and activities.
© Act Up 2
ACT UP Montréal
The much-anticipated exhibition Aesthetic Activism of ACT UP MONTRÉAL: A History in Photos and Posters is being presented at the Archives gaies du Québec (Quebec Gay Archives) from June 13 to August 13.
The Archives gaies du Québec holds more than 2,000 photographs taken by legendary Montréal queer activist René LeBoeuf during the activities of ACT UP Montréal, as well as other materials used during their protests, such as signs and banners. A selection from this collection will be featured in the exhibition on display at the archives (100 Atetaken Street). Free admission.
Pride circus
Also happening during Montréal Pride, Le Monastère downtown presents their Pride Circus Cabaret from August 3 to 19, with a cast of more than a dozen circus artists from Québec’s LGBTQ+ communities.
Fierté Montréal Pride runs from August 3 to 13. Full programming details are available online at fiertemtl.com.
Richard Burnett
Richard “Bugs” Burnett is a Canadian freelance writer, editor, journalist, blogger and columnist for alt-weeklies, mainstream and LGBTQ+ publications. Bugs also knows Montréal like a drag queen knows a cosmetics counter.
