Pride Winnipeg is celebrating its 13th year at The Forks, and it’s bigger than ever. The theme this year is “Transcend Together.” According to Pride Winnipeg’s website, the theme “embodies the collective strength and unity within the queer community. It emphasizes the empowerment and resilience of trans individuals, advocating for the protection of trans rights and the celebration of their unique identities.”

The festival has come a long way since the first gathering at the Legislature in 1987. Barry Karlenzig, president and chair of Pride Winnipeg, says organizers are expecting “between 90 and 95,000 people at the festival this year. Pre-COVID, we (had) 35,000.”

Pride officially begins May 24 with the flag raising, while the rally will begin at the Manitoba legislative grounds at 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 2. After speeches, the parade will work its way through downtown to The Forks.

This year there will be three stages: the main stage, the kids’ stage and the community stage, which Barry says is “being rebranded and relaunched with a new name that will be unveiled ... (one) that is really representative of the community.” Come find out what it will be and check out the brand new 55-plus area as well as the expanded substance-free zones.

If the sights and sounds are a bit too overwhelming, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights has a quiet zone with a live feed of the main stage. There is also an accessible viewing area at Canada Life Centre, but registration in advance is recommended. And for those who can’t make it out at all, CTV will livestream the festivities on their website.

In the name of sustainability, there are no longer any paper festival guides. Check out the Pride Winnipeg app for information, including a list of all the performers, the 50/50 contest and the scholarship program.

Published in Volume 78, Number 25 of The Uniter (May 30, 2024)