The upcoming Battlefords Pride Week event will take place Aug. 19 to 25. The Pride parade is set for Aug. 24. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff) 

By Angela Brown

Celebrating diversity

Pride Week to include rainbow crosswalk, ‘family-friendly’ drag show

Aug 11, 2019 | 8:35 AM

Pride Week plans are coming together as the date for the event nears.

The festivities will run Monday, Aug. 19 to Sunday, Aug. 25.

The LGBTQ Battlefords and Area Pride organizers expect a fun and informative week of activities, with the highlight being the parade on Aug. 24.

Organizing committee member Kelly Waters said the event has seen a growth in the number of donors this year.

Organizers plan to create a new rainbow crosswalk in downtown North Battleford following a flag-raising ceremony outside city hall on Aug. 19 to kick off the week.

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The crosswalk will be on 101 St., across from the North Battleford library.

Waters is encouraging anyone who can volunteer to come out and help paint the crosswalk.

Another highlight for this year’s festivities is what is being called a family-friendly drag show at the Third Avenue United Church’s Wesley Hall at 7 p.m. on Aug. 21, following a barbecue fundraiser at Library Park at 5 p.m. The barbecue will take place at the same time as the Live at 5 outdoor concert in the park.

The pride parade on Aug. 24 will be led by Donald Meriam, the self-proclaimed Royal Patron of Battlefords Pride. It will start at 1 p.m. on Aug. 24 at Library Park.

“Anything to do with pride I’m very close to,” he said.

Meriam said the community should be proud it has a special week each year to recognize pride. He added the event helps make the community more inclusive.

Additional activities during the week include :

An LGBTQ story-time evening on Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. at the North Battleford Public Library. This is an all-ages event for people to share and listen to other people’s personal stories.

In Battleford on Aug. 22, a barbecue and concert featuring the band Killjoy at the park downtown will start at 5 p.m.

On Aug. 23, people can take in a screening of the movie “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar,” at midnight at the Capital Annex Theatre in North Battleford. Admission is by donation. Organizers are inviting attendees to don a fun costume for the show.

On Aug. 24 a Pride Festival will take place at Library Park from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. People can enjoy fun activities for the family at the park. Then, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. visitors can take in an evening of live music and dancing in the park.

On Aug. 25, some educational guest speakers will give presentations at the North Battleford Public Library from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Full details of all the activities are available on the Battlefords Pride Week Facebook page.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow