Pride Weekend is just around the corner, and anyone who lives in Toronto knows exactly what that means: the largest Pride festival in Canada (and one of the largest in the entire world) is underway! Every queer stone is overturned and local entertainers, businesses and residents work together as a driving force to accommodate this annual festival.

In the local drag bars, restaurants and nightclubs are where you will find them. Toronto’s homegrown diamonds in the rough. The community members who hold this neighbourhood together for the other 51 weeks of the year. It’s their determination that gives Toronto a “queer nirvana” rep, and the only reason we even have a Pride Toronto festival to begin with.

A multitude of events during Pride are organized by local businesses and entertainers – performers, DJ’s, promoters, event coordinators, etc. It’s hard to keep track. Pride parties are literally every place, every night, all week long, but it’s the local celebrations that proudly represent and even benefit the Toronto LGBTQ+ community.

Here are some of the Church & Wellesley Village parties that are presented by Toronto’s LGBTQ+ community during Pride Weekend in Toronto:

PRIDE FRIDAY JUNE 22

AS IF FRIDAYS: “PRIDE LIGHTS”
MoJo Toronto, DJ Cajjmere Wray, Ivory Towers, Mona Moore, Priyanka, Violet Dreams
The Drink Coffee – Whiskey – Social
459 Church Street, Level 2
10pm-2:30am

BAD HABITS SOCIAL PRIDE PARTY
Bad Habits Social, La Rouge Entertainment, Two Dames Entertainment, Kim Anh, Jules Bangsworth, Laura Scavo, Kage, Gimmemar
Fly 2.0
8 Gloucester Street
10pm-5am

BALLS DEEP DISCO PRIDE’18
DJ Robotic Kid, JKriv
The Black Eagle Toronto
457 Church Street
10pm-4am

GREEN SPACE: ONE WORLD 10TH ANNIVERSARY
Deko-ze, Saeed Younan, Carl Craig
In support of The 519 Community Centre
Barbara Hall Park, 519 Church Street
1pm-Midnight

PRIDE SATURDAY JUNE 23

BEACH BAR BURLESQUE – A PRIDE PARTY
Aviva the Mirage, Bedlam Bardot, Bellamie Beastly, Dolly Berlin, Cascade, Charlie Quinn, Ferrera Rosé, Franny Panties, Newfound Lad, Setera Seamoure, Seymour Bottoms, Tanya, Cheex, Versace la Bismalva, Maximum Capacity, Rhapsody Blue, Sassy Ray, DJ Johnny B Goode
562 Church Street
Burlesque Show: 4-6:30pm,
Dancing ‘til 2am

GREEN SPACE: LIPSTICK JUNGLE
Tracy Young, Ana Paula, Morabito, Misstress Barbara
In support of The 519 Community Centre
Barbara Hall Park, 519 Church Street
1pm-Midnight

MOJO PRIDE 2018: RETURN OF THE QUEENS
MoJo Toronto, Scarlett BoBo, Billy Santoro, Frustra, DJ Fluffly Souffle, Cassandra James, Quanah Style, Violet Dreams, Judy Virago
JC Grillhouse
25 Wellesley Street East
10pm-2:30am

PHIL AND JOHN’S LOVE-IN
DJ John Caffery, Phillippe
The Black Eagle Toronto
457 Church Street
9pm-4am

THE GLITTER BALL – PRIDE 2018
DJ Kitty Glitter, Sofonda Cox, Devine Darlin, Jada Hudson, Pierre Fitch, Ethan Chase, DJ Geoff Kelleway, Levi, Shera & DJ Sumation
Fly 2.0
8 Gloucester Street
10pm-5am

PRIDE SUNDAY JUNE 24

GO HARD: SWAGG 2 DA ROOF! PRIDE CLOSING PARTY
DJ Blackcat, Charmed Monroe, DJ Pleasure, Reece Myrie, DJ Prestige, DJ Ladyassassin, DJ Lisa Monet
Club 120
120 Church Street
10:30pm-4am

GIRLPLAY TORONTO T-DANCE: PRIDE 2018!
DJ Marina, DJ Beatrix, DJ Lucie DJ Tic, DJ Foxxtrot
The Berkeley Bicycle Club
504 Jarvis Street
2-11pm

GREEN SPACE: TREEHOUSE PARTY 10TH ANNIVERSARY
Ben Bakson, GSP, Hector Romero, Angel Moraes, Isaac Escalante, Matthew Richardson, Scott Fordham’s dancers & choreography
In support of The 519 Community Centre
Barbara Hall Park, 519 Church Street
1pm-Midnight

RESIST: PRISM CLOSING PARTY
Abel Aguilera, Tom Stephan, Geoff Kelleway, Ticky Ty, Joee Cons, Josh Karmin
Fly 2.0
8 Gloucester Street
10pm-9am

NOTE: Boutique Bar, California Cafe, Church Street Garage, Crews & Tangos, Flash Nightclub, Pegasus, Pitbull Events, O’Grady’s, Statlers and Woody’s/Sailor are all producing events with local talents as well! Support your local venues and entertainers! Happy Pride, Toronto!

About the Author

Joey Viola is the Co-Founder of MoJo Toronto and an LGBTQ community leader who utilizes his passion and flair for the art of writing by bringing a fresh perspective in reviewing entertainment and advocating for equality, tolerance, and social/political justice.