Pride Toronto Festival making long-awaited, in-person return in June 2022
Posted November 17, 2021 11:41 am.
Last Updated November 17, 2021 3:42 pm.
After holding virtual-only events in the past two years, Pride Toronto’s festival, parade and various events are making a long-awaited — in-person — comeback next summer.
Pride Toronto announced on Wednesday that planning for a physical Pride Month and festival weekend “is in full swing for 2022,” confirming that the entire month of programming will begin on June 1.
The annual festival will run from June 24 to June 26.
“We are also excited to include the annual City of Toronto Flag Raising on June 1, 2022, and Cabana Pool Party with Symone on June 15, 2022, Island Party on June 19, 2022, with so much more to be announced in 2022,” Pride Toronto said in a news release.
Pride Toronto says its organization will ensure the annual events will be organized “in alignment with the City of Toronto’s Public Health recommendations.”
“It’s been a long two years; you won’t want to miss this.”
Citing ongoing concerns with the third wave of COVID-19, in February, Toronto cancelled all city-led and city-permitted events until July 1, effectively annulling all spring and early summer events.
With the celebrations expected back in 2022, to be more environmentally cautious, Pride Toronto says it will be eliminating the use of flatbed floats and gas-powered vehicles in 2022 and will be moving to smaller green-powered vehicles.
Grant Gonzales and Yuri Hernandez — Co-Chairs, Board of Directors for Pride Toronto — said the decision was made through conversations with Toronto’s 2SLGBTQ+ community, stakeholders, and partners.
“Pride Toronto has a special responsibility to promote environmental sustainability, in the face of the increasingly dire threat of climate change,” Gonzales and Hernandez said.
“We are greatly appreciative of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, stakeholders, and partners for accommodating this important shift, and we are beyond excited to celebrate the 2022 Pride Festival together in person.”
Pride Toronto is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to bring people together to celebrate the history, courage, and diversity of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
