Ottawa embraced Capital Pride festivities this year in record numbers.  Celebrating under the slogan “Free to Love”,  Pride came to a conclusion on Sunday, August 24th.   The main event,  for the day, was the annual “Capital Pride Parade.”    The event drew huge crowds along Bank Street from Gladstone Avenue to Laurier West and across to City Hall’s Festival Plaza.  There were over 3000 parade participants with over 75,000 spectators.

The parade featured floats from sponsors Loblaws and TD Bank, as well as 125 groups. Parade marshals included Helen Kennedy (Grand Marshall), Murray Lavigne (Lifetime Achievement Marshall), Elliott Werhle (Youth Marshall), Cason Crane (International Marshall) and co-community builder marshals, Holly and Julia Wagg of the Ten Oaks Project.

The day continued with “The Capital Pride Beer Garden and Main Stage.” The 29th Annual Capital Pride Main Stage was bigger and better then ever!

The Main Stage – hosted by Darienne Lake (the oh-my-voluptuous peach from Ru Paul Drag Race season six) – was  saturated with talent, including:
• Grammy Award-winning producer DJ Hex Hector versus DJ Mark Anthony
• The return of the Australian feline, DJ Kitty Glitter
• Performance by Cazwell and New York City’s favourite blonde bombshell, Amanda Lapore (see theBUZZ’s video coverage on this performance).
• Live performance by Adore Delano, Ru Paul Drag Race season six runner up
• Montreal’s celebrated DJ Stephan Grondin with Celeda the Singer
• Hot Sauce, Montreal’s biggest women’s party with DJ Tizzi and DJ Amara, who headlined Dinah Shore
• Canada’s Capital Kings, the best of the best!
• Beats by Ottawa icons DJ Jo Juarez and DJ Dan Valin
• Titillating dancers from Capital Tease Burlesque
• Special performances by Mr and Ms Capital Pride Pageant winners

Produced by the House of SAS, this year’s Capital Pride Main Stage event has tweaked and tickled production values until they’re just right.

The event also had many LGBTQ related vendors from fashion to business services.

 

Photos by: Randy Hamilton

 

 

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theBUZZ Features is written by theBUZZ editorial staff. Check back often for news on the latest LGBTQ arts, entertainment, and events.