Your guide to Toronto pride

The Toronto Pride Festival is back for another year of entertainment, activities and celebrations in honour of our city’s diverse community. Today on the blog, Hazelview Properties will provide you with a brief guide to Pride Week, including festival information, highlights and events. Our 34-42 Maitland Street Apartments are located within the vibrant Church and Wellesley neighbourhood, the central hub of activity for Toronto Pride 2015.

About the Festival

The City of Toronto celebrates Pride for ten exciting days in June, spanning from June19^th until the 28^th. Toronto throws one of the world’s biggest Pride celebrations which has been observed annually since 1981. The most prominent days of the festival are the last Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the week (June 26-28), which draw more than 1.2 million spectators and participants.

Key Events

The official Toronto Pride Week comprises a series of parties, events and activities from the Official Pride Launch Party to the main event, the Pride Parade. Here are a few of our can’t-miss picks for Pride Week:

The Pride Community Street Fair and Marketplace

The Pride Community Street Fair and Marketplace runs throughout Pride Weekend from June 26^th until the 28^th and is a huge showcase for local artisans, retailers, food vendors, community organizations and more. It takes place right in the heart of the Village, along Church Street and intersecting Wellesley Street East. The Marketplace runs from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m. on Friday, 12 p.m. until 2 a.m. on Saturday and from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday.

Family Pride

Family Pride takes place on the grounds of Church Street Junior Public School over the Saturday and Sunday of Pride Weekend. This is a family-friendly event and includes crafts, games, live children’s entertainment, a family picnic on Saturday and a family brunch on Sunday.

Toronto Dyke March

The Toronto Dyke March is held on Saturday, June 27^th and begins on Church and Hayden Streets, continuing west along Bloor, south down Yonge and then proceeds to the rally at Allan Gardens. The March runs from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and is a political demonstration of critical mass, where women and trans* communities take over the streets of Toronto to promote equality and awareness.

Toronto Pride Parade

Toronto Pride Week culminates on Sunday, June 28^th at 2 p.m. with the Toronto Pride Parade. This hugely attended procession commences at the intersection of Bloor Street East and Church Street, then heads west to Yonge Street and all the way through Yonge-Dundas Square. Spectators and supporters can expect to see extravagant floats, costumes, live performances and plenty of Pride spirit. Yonge-Dundas Square is only a ten-minute walk from Hazelview’s 34 Maitland Street Community.

Embrace the spirit of Pride this summer during Toronto’s annual Pride Week.