Your guide to Pride Month in Kingston

By Visit Kingston

In June, Kingston celebrates Pride Month 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ We hope you participate in Pride and support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community with us in Kingston. We’ve created the ultimate Kingston bucket list for Pride Month, filled with fun events for everyone.

Are we missing a Kingston pride experience or item? Let us know using our webchat feature so we can add it to the list.

In-person activities

Explore downtown

Take a seat in a red Muskoka chair and enjoy time outdoors with your family and friends. A few steps away at the intersection of Clarence Street and Ontario Street, you’ll find the Pride crosswalk painted in support of Pride Month. As you walk through downtown, peek in storefront windows and keep your eye out for pride displays and transformed neon hearts.

Beers for queers

Beers for Queers Pride Kick-off

June 10 from 8 pm, Monte’s @ Tir Nan Og

Kick off Pride celebrations with members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and their allies. This event is hosted by Peechez, who is performing her fabulous One-Woman Roulette show packed with powerful pride-related music.

Katarokwi Indigenous Art & Food Market

June 4, 11, 18, & 25 from 10 am, Springer Market Square

This market features local Indigenous vendors, artisans, and musicians in Springer Market Square. Peruse handcrafted art, jewelry, and clothing for sale. Enjoy freshly made food and take in live music and demonstrations.

Pride run/walkPride Run/Walk 2023

June 11 from 10 am, John Machin Park

Get your adrenaline pumping with a 5k or 2k fun run/walk. This event is free and is sponsored by Cher-Mere Day Spa.

Queer Games Night

June 12 from 6 – 9 pm, Kingston Gaming Nexus

Join a free evening of board gaming at Kingston Gaming Nexus! Board games range from casual to complex, so there’s something for everyone at this all-ages event.

Pride Trivia Night

June 13 from 7 pm, Riverhead Brewing Company, Something in the Water, and Fine Balance Brewing

Join Kingston Pride for Tuesday Trivia at one of three local breweries! Trivia at all locations is free and no advance registration is required. Bring your trivia team and compete for awesome prizes at this all-ages event.

Queer Volleyball

June 14, 7 – 10 pm, Loyalist Collegiate and Vocational Institute Gym 3

Kingston Queer Volleyball will be hosting drop-in volleyball for all skill levels. This is a safe and welcoming space for those who want to meet new people, get some exercise, and celebrate pride.

 

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Drag Me to Pride: A Celebration

June 14, 8 – 11 pm, The Grad Club

Celebrate queer artistry, camp tomfoolery, and pride at The Grad Club. This event is hosted by drag performers Sherry Anne Hex and Eden Moore, and features Honey Jack, Abysskiss, Tanya King, and Tony Tequila. Tickets are available for purchase online or at the door.

Movies in the Square – Rosie (2022)

June 15 starting at dusk, Springer Market Square

Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a free viewing of the 2022 film Rosie (rated 14A). This dramatic comedy tells the story of a suddenly orphaned Indigenous girl who must live with her street-smart aunty and her two gender-bending best friends in 1980s Montreal. Come before dusk to see a special pre-movie performance by singer Krista Muir.

Queer Karaoke Night

June 15, 7 – 10 pm, Daft Brewing

Be proud and prideful at Kingston’s weirdest brewery, Daft Brewing, for a night of Queer Karaoke. Bring friends and family to belt out your favourite songs by 2SLGBTQIA+ artists and allies.

Pridelesque: Pride Week Burlesque

June 15 from 7 pm, Tie One On Creativity Bar

Join Limestone City Burlesque for a sequined celebration of queerness and fearlessness. This event starts with a fan-making workshop at 7 pm and then a pride-themed burlesque show at 9 pm. Tickets are required to attend.

Out on the Queen Boat Cruise

June 16 from 7 – 10 pm, Island Queen (Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises)

Enjoy a cruise through the 1000 Islands and three floors of entertainment on the Island Queen. This year will feature a DJ/dance party, a drag show, and a gorgeous rooftop view! Tickets are $40 on Kingston Pride’s website.

Beers for Queers

June 16 & 17 from 9 pm, main bar @ Tir Nan Og

Beers for Queers is a free social event for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and their allies. Come on out for an evening filled with friends and brews!

Kingston Pride Community Fair

June 17, 10 am – 6 pm, Confederation Park

This community fair is a celebration of people who support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Kingston and the surrounding area. Check out the local vendors and exhibitors while taking in performances at centre stage in front of City Hall. A beer garden (19+) will be available with views of the shows. This event is free to attend.

Drag Storytime

June 17, 10:30 – 11:30 am, Springer Market Square

Join local drag entertainers as we celebrate acceptance and being true to yourself through songs and 2SLGBTQIA+ stories. This is a free event for all ages.

Pride Parade

Pride Parade

June 17, noon – 1 pm, Princess Street

Bring your friends, family, furry buddies, and pride to this free parade for all ages! Join us for the march down Princess Street, from Alfred Street to Ontario Street.

Pride in the Square

June 17, 7 – 10 pm, Springer Market Square

Come down to Springer Market Square for an all-ages DJ concert and drag show to cap off your night. Bring your friends and family to dance the night away.

Pride Drag Brunch

June 18, 11:30 am – 2 pm, Wharf and Feather

Take part in a drag brunch to recover from all the Pride festivities! Tickets include a full brunch menu, table drink service, and a drag show starring local performers Rowena Whey, Van Goth, and Mini Osa. Tickets are required to attend.

Skeleton Park Arts Festival: Drag Queen Storytime

June 25, 11 am, Skeleton Park Main Stage

Join local drag entertainers at the Skeleton Park Arts Festival for Drag Queen Storytime. Listen to 2SLGBTQIA+ stories and songs at this free, all-ages performance. Visit Skeleton Park Arts Festival website for more information.

Check out Kingston Pride’s website for all planned events.

Kingston Pride Gifts

Alphabet Mafia

Alphabet Mafia

342 Princess Street

Alphabet Mafia is a specialized 2SLGBTQIA+ shop whose mission is to create a safe and welcoming space for people of any orientation or identity. They are Kingston’s go-to store for Pride swag. Their products include stickers, flags, shirts, socks, posters, hats, and queer memorabilia.

 

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Spearhead Brewing Company Queen of Wheat beer

Queen of Wheat is an award-winning classic Belgian-style white beer brewed with hints of succulent peach and generous amounts of soft Canadian wheat to create a smooth mouthfeel. The noble hops and wheat yeast give a zesty, citrusy fruitiness with floral and spicy aromatics. Spearhead Brewing Company has joined forces with activist and drag performer Rowena Whey and The Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) to offer a portion of the proceeds from sales of each case to support CCGSD’s education efforts.

Kingston Pride merch

Visitor Information Centre, 209 Ontario Street

Enjoy your choice of Kingston tees, tanks, baseball caps, masks, and beach towels with 25% of all sales donated to Kingston Pride.

From Mercury Boutique

From Mercury is an LGBTQ2SIA+-inclusive alternative lifestyle boutique operating in Kingston. They celebrate our local artists and makers and provide quality one-of-a-kind products and gifts that are outside the box. They sell their creations online and at local markets and events throughout the year.

Are you interested in finding more Kingston events? Check out some upcoming Kingston events.