Yellowknife Pride, which runs Tuesday, Aug. 6, to Sunday, Aug. 11, will feature an array of activities, according to Chelsea Thacker, executive director of the Northern Mosaic Network.
"These events are not just open to people who are part of our community, but they are open to the community as a whole because we believe in fostering a sense of community among everyone," said Thacker. "You don't have to know who you are just to show up either."
Some of the week's highlights include:
-Pussycats Ball Cat Show, happening at the Elk's Lodge on Aug. 8.
-Pink Pony Pride Party, happening Aug, 9 at the Explorer Hotel for adults
-A Rainbow Run at Somba K'e Park on Aug. 10. That's a chance to raise money for Northern Mosaic Network.
-Slay the Rocks, happening at the Folk on the Rocks main stage on Aug. 10, starting at 6 p.m.
- A drag brunch, exclusive to VIP ticket-holders, on Aug. 11
It's been a summer of pride, Thacker said. Pride month took place in June, a nationally-dedicated celebration. But Yellowknife Pride is just for the city, which picked August as its month for a few reasons, they explained.
"Yellowknife is a smaller community, so by proxy it's harder to get some larger names, like performers, to come up during a month where everyone else is having opportunities. If you wanted to go and perform at Ottawa Pride then you couldn't come in June."
For this year's event, there will be plenty of local talent and some from outside the NWT too, said Zain Ali, director of community programming with the Northern Mosaic Network. But no matter who's coming and from where, for them, it's the community around Yellowknife that makes pride special.
"Mainly when you're in the big cities, you kind of get washed away in the communities, and then when you have these important events, the community rallies around you, which is awesome," said Ali.