What's planned for Pride month in Ottawa this August
Parade, night market, square dancing among planned festivities
With August being Pride month, there is no shortage of events around Ottawa celebrating the breadth of the 2SLGBTQ+ culture and experience.
This year, Capital Pride is doing its big parade event on Aug. 24. on Elgin and Laurier streets. In addition to that, other groups are holding their own events throughout the month.
The following list is organized by date but it is not comprehensive; there are many events throughout the city and organizers near you may be planning celebrations.
Love in a Dangerous Time: Canada's LGBT Purge
- Date: Aug. 1-31.
- Hosted by: National Arts Centre.
Love in a Dangerous Time: Canada's LGBT Purge is a pop-up exhibit by the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. It examines a period known as "the Purge," when the Canadian government instigated, harassed and expelled 2SLGBTQ+ members of the armed forces from the 1950s to the 1990s.
The event is free.
Afternoon Tea Dance
- Date: Aug. 3.
- Hosted by: Homo Phono and The Grove.
Afternoon Tea Dance, held by Homo Phone, is an event inspired by tea dance events organized in the American gay community originating in New York in the 1950s and 1960s.
The original dances included tea services rather than alcohol as it was illegal to serve alcohol to queer and transgender people, organizers of this event explain in the description.
Masks are mandatory for this event, which is also substance-free and sober friendly.
Queer Bike Club Backpacking Trip
- Date: Aug. 9-10.
- Hosted by: Queer Bike Club.
Queer Bike Club Ottawa is doing a weekend bike packing trip to Merrickville, Ont. It will be a 55-kilometre overnight trip to the Merrickville lock station. There is a sign up deadline of Aug. 4.
The group also has other events running in August, including a social ride from Strathcona Park to Rockcliffe Park on Aug. 18.
Annual Pride Coffee House
- Date: Friday, Aug. 15.
- Hosted by: Tungasuvvingat Inuit and the Inuuqatigiit Centre.
The Annual Pride Coffee House is a way for Inuit 2SLGBTQ+ people and allies to come together as a community for Pride.
There's a call-out for performers to accompany the food and beverages that guests will enjoy. It's a free event but guests are asked to register if they plan to join the fun.
Pride Family Picnic
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 16.
- Hosted by: Centre33.
The Pride Family Picnic will be held in Kanata by a community organization that hosts year-round 2SLGBTQ+ programming.
It's specifically targeted at families, so there will be plenty to keep kids — and their parents — entertained.
Beach Bums Tournament
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 16.
- Hosted by: Pride Capital Volleyball.
Pride Capital Volleyball is a community group of volleyball enthusiasts of all skill levels. It regularly hosts youth and adult drop-in games, plus several leagues for competitive players.
Its special tournament in August is called Beach Bums and is aimed at "intermediate/advanced" players in teams of four.
If you want to play, there's a registration fee and you'll need to confirm your roster by early August. Spectators are also encouraged to turn out to support the players.
Pride Night Market
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 16.
- Hosted by: Little Jo Berry's and Venus Envy Ottawa.
Pride Night Market will be held at the Parkdale Market and will feature over 60 small business vendors selling snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, art, and other products.
On-leash dogs are welcome and the event will feature live music from local queer performers.
Halo-Halo: All-Asian Drag Fiesta
- Date: Sunday, Aug. 17.
- Hosted by: Saboroso Bistro and DragSilog Collective.
Halo-Halo: All-Asian Drag Fiesta is an event organized by DragSilog Collective, which holds events aiming to celebrate and uplift voices of queer people of colour. The event will celebrate queer Asian joy and diversity along with hot Filipino food.
Dinner starts at 4:30 p.m. and the event starts at 5 p.m.
ElderQueers (2SLGBTQIA+) Storytelling Workshop
- Date: Aug. 18-22.
- Hosted by: National Arts Centre.
ElderQueers is a workshop event lead by actress Mary Ellen MacLean where attendees can work on their storytelling skills over the course of five sessions.
Participants may use movement, puppets, music and the stories they tell can be serious, comic, or both.
Tickets cover all five workshop sessions.
Queers & Beers
- Date: Thursday, Aug. 21.
- Hosted by: Queering613 and Overflow Brewing.
Queers & Beers is exactly what it sounds like: a party at a craft brewery with live music. This year, you can expect to see Montreal DJ BLK PRL (aka Sandy Duperval) and Ottawa-born musician OK Naledi.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and performances start at 8 p.m. You can get tickets online or at the door.
Street Festival
- Date: Aug. 23-24.
- Hosted by: Capital Pride.
The 2025 edition of the annual Capital Pride street festival will feature community organizations, political groups, and a craft fair.
Drag & Balls
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 23.
- Hosted by: OQSL and Bruce House.
Drag & Balls is an annual charity softball event organized to support Bruce House, a local organization which helps people in Ottawa living with HIV and AIDS.
The event includes a drag softball game and party. /this year's theme is Drag & Balls: Disco Inferno, so guests will be treated to "fierce" '70s fashion and "groovy tunes" hosted by Ottawa's DJ POWRHAUS.
Bliss
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 23.
- Hosted by: Lez Go and Queen St. Fare.
If you're into Ottawa's lesbian scene, you might be familiar with Lez Go: a group of "lesbian+" people that hosts community events for its members.
This Pride month, you can attend its Bliss party at Queen St. Fare in downtown Ottawa. The festivities start around 7:30 p.m., and its website says you can expect a raffle, designated singles tables and performers like Rachelle Behrens and Rëa.
Ottawa Dyke March
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 23.
- Hosted by: Ottawa Dyke March.
The Ottawa Dyke March will be held the day before Capital Pride's Pride Parade, by a community group of the same name which describes itself as "devoted to creating spaces for dykes and their families, friends and allies."
It will start at Minto Park that afternoon and end with a community gathering with food, face painting and other activities.
Pride Square Dance
- Date: Saturday, Aug. 23.
- Hosted by: Ottawa Date Squares
The Ottawa Date Squares is a local square dancing group that hosts events throughout the year. If you're in the mood to shake your feet this Pride Month, consider attending their Pride Dance.
This free event welcomes participants with any level of experience and doesn't require you to bring a partner. They teach you everything you need to know and let the music take it from there.
Pride Parade
- Date: Sunday, Aug. 24.
- Hosted by: Capital Pride.
The Pride Parade, held annually by Capital Pride, will take place on the first day of its two-day festival. Dozens of local groups march in the parade and everyone is invited to watch the spectacle.
Drag Bingo
- Date: Sunday, Aug. 31.
- Hosted by: Hammond Golf and Broken Stick Brewery.
A few kilometres east of Ottawa, the Hammond Golf and Country Club is hosting a drag bingo event, hosted by drag artist and former Ms. Capital Pride, Devona Coe.
Admission includes four rounds of bingo with four cards per round. Funds raised will be donated to Family Services Ottawa's Around the Rainbow program, according to the website.
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