Celebrate Pride in Victoria at these food-related events

Food, drink, and performances to expect at the festival’s community events

Author

Sarah Madsen
June 26, 2024

Photo: Victoria Pride Society / Facebook

Victoria Pride Festival returns this week, celebrating the city’s LGBTQ+ community. Until July 7, events are taking place across the city and many of them involve delicious eats and drinks. We have compiled a selection of festivities that you do not want to miss this Pride including everything from community ball games and picnics to drag brunches and queer markets. 

Kicking off this week’s Pride events is a celebration of community and queerness at the Campus Community Garden at the University of Victoria on Friday, June 28. The event will feature live drag performances from Peaches N Screams and Bad Shah as well an open mic that welcomes music, dance, drag, comedy, poetry, and more. The celebration will also host a snack potluck to enjoy during the performances. If the weather does not cooperate, the event will move to Felicita’s Pub. Entry is by donation and the event will be collecting non-perishable goods.  

Where: Campus Community Garden; 2100 McKenzie
When: Friday, June 28; doors 5:30pm, show 6pm 

Vancouver Island Brewing is celebrating Pride with limited edition beers in its taproom, with a dollar from each featured beer going towards Pflag Canada after 4pm on Friday, June 28. The two Pride pints are a Pina Colada Sour and a Beach Shack Guava Blonde, which has notes of honey and light citrus hops.  

Where: Vancouver Island Brewing; 2330 Government
When: Friday, June 28; after 4pm

Enjoy a delicious dinner at Friends of Dorothy while taking in drag performances hosted by Mina Mercury and featuring guests like Lilith Cain, The Real Human Girl, Persi Flage, and Gloria Hole. The LGBTQ+ restaurant and bar serves up a Wizard of Oz themed cocktail menu as well as sharing plates, charcuterie, and vegan dishes. This event is happening on June 28 and 29 as well as July 5 and 6 during Pride month, but it also takes place weekly on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year.   

Where: Friends of Dorothy; 537 Johnson
When: Every Friday and Saturday; 5:30-8:30pm

This market at Oaklands Community Centre on Saturday, June 29 will celebrate and support Victoria’s transgender and queer community. It will host over 50 vendors selling food, craft goods, art, and produce. Food trucks like Greek N' Go, Kattia's Kitchen, and Deadbeetz Burgers will be in attendance and there will also be a beer garden. Live performances will include music, a DJ set, and a drag set by Sylvester Stalletto. There will also be family-friendly activities like a drag storytime hosted by Persi Flage, crafts, sidewalk chalking, and a scavenger hunt.     

Where: Oakland Community Centre; 2827 Belmont
When: Saturday, June 29; 11am-5pm

The annual drag baseball game that encourages absurdity and laughter returns to Vic West Park on Monday, July 1. Watch local drag performers play ball while enjoying a picnic in the park. The event started in 1993 as a way to celebrate community at a time when many lives were lost during the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Photo: Victoria Pride Society / Facebook

Where: Vic West Park
When: Monday, July 1; noon-3pm

Get your furry friend all decked out in Pride colours and head down to Banfield Park on Wednesday, July 3 for this annual community walk. The event will feature a dog costume contest and a dog trick competition, followed by a dog walk along the Gorge Waterway. Vendors catering to pets will be present and there will also be food trucks available to enjoy a bite to eat.  

Where: Banfield Park
When: Wednesday, July 3; 5:30pm

This annual Pride celebrations at Yates Street Community Garden will take place on Saturday, July 6. Enjoy the gardens at this all ages event and make your own free bouquet, with flowers provided by Flowerface Farm. The event will also be serving free coffee and locally-made doughnuts for attendees to enjoy.     

Where: Yates Street Community Garden; 1014 Yates
When: Saturday, July 6; 10:30am-noon

Eves of Destruction are hosting two roller derby matches to celebrate Pride at Archie Browning Sports Centre on Saturday, July 6. First, the roller derby league’s junior team will face off against Vancouver's Rolling Nightmares, followed by a match up between the home league’s Belles of the Brawl and its Daisy Pushers. A beverage garden will be at the event, serving up drinks from The Strait & Narrow and Spinnakers. Tickets are $20, or $15 for students and seniors.       

Where: Archie Browning Sports Centre; 1151 Esquimalt Rd. 
When: Saturday, July 6; 5-9pm

Moon Under Water is hosting an all ages drag lunch on Saturday, July 6. The event will be hosted by Leo and Aries Moon and will include additional performances from Chastitty Belle, Oliver Clozoff, and Robyn Hearts. Enjoy a shaft flight while watching the show and chow down on the brewery’s dishes including shareables, burgers, and tacos. Tickets are $15.  

Where: Moon Under Water Brewpub and Distillery; 350 Bay
When: Saturday, July 6; noon-3pm

Following the Pride Parade, head down to McDonald Park in James Bay on Sunday, July 7 for an afternoon of Pride celebrations. Coco Klein, Ella Lamoureux, and Shelita will headline performances on the main stage, with additional drag, music, and DJ sets taking place throughout the day. Over 130 vendors will be attending and the event will also include a kid’s area with drag storytimes, an obstacle course, a video game lounge, and a low sensory lounge. The event will have two bars, with one being a sober bar that serves mocktails. There will also be a large number of food trucks in attendance. 

Where: McDonald Park
When: Sunday, July 7; 11am-6pm