Kelowna Pride Week kicks off on Friday

Typically, Kelowna Pride would take place over a hot week in the summer, bringing people together for a number of events throughout the city.

Like many other things in 2020, however, Kelowna Pride couldn’t take place in the summer due to COVID-19, but it wasn’t cancelled.

Instead, it was postponed until Sept. 18-27, which means it kicks off later this week.

It’s been a tough grind for organizers to plan what will be a very different Pride Week, but now that it’s on the horizon, they’re hoping the community will come together for an inclusive and safe celebration.

“Obviously, it has been a difficult year, to put it mildly, and while COVID-19 has presented unique challenges, we were determined to find a way to mark Kelowna Pride Week 2020 in a safe, inclusive and celebratory manner,” said Dustyn Baulkham, GM of the Kelowna Pride Society.

“The board has been working really hard to find responsible ways to bring the community together, and I’m proud that we’ve been able to come up with some special events that ensure we can celebrate Kelowna Pride Week 2020 while still being mindful of this moment in history.”

Over 10 days, there will be plenty of in-person and virtual events, including a trio of parades.

There will be a pedal parade (bicycle) on Sept. 22, a water parade (people-powered watercraft) on Sept. 23 and a vehicle parade (cars, trucks etc.) on Sept. 24.

Kelowna’s Next Drag Superstar will also take place over nine days, the Pride Festival is set for Sept. 26 and there’s an Outdoor Rainbow Market at House of Rose Winery on Sept. 20.

In an effort to make Pride Week as inclusive as possible, a number of events will be live streamed for free, while Kelowna’s Next Drag Superstar will be live streamed for a small fee.

You can find a full list of Kelowna Pride Week 2020 events and a schedule by clicking this link.