Kamloops Pride

06/19/2026

We are so grateful to our generous sponsors at all levels, but this special shout out goes to our Rainbow, Platinum, and Gold level sponsors for 2026. With their support, Kamloops Pride was able to host an incredible Pride Festival including a lineup of professional performers and a full downtown Parade. Because Pride is not just one day or one week of the year, these sponsorships also go a long way in supporting Kamloops Pride’s year-round programming for 2SLGBTQPIA+ youth and adults. As a volunteer-run non-profit, Kamloops Pride always exists in precarity due to rising costs of venues, equipment, and labour. Thanks to our sponsors we are able to keep making space in Kamloops for 2SLGBTQPIA+ joy, resistance, and freedom!

Stay tuned to our stories next week to see all our sponsors big and small who supported us in 2026!

06/18/2026

Rainbow Reads June pick is Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin!
Gilda, a twenty-something, atheist, animal-loving le***an, cannot stop ruminating about death. Desperate for relief from her panicky mind and alienated from her repressive family, she responds to a flyer for free therapy at a local Catholic church, and finds herself being greeted by Father Jeff, who assumes she’s there for a job interview. Too embarrassed to correct him, Gilda is abruptly hired to replace the recently deceased receptionist Grace. (thestorygraph)

Free to borrow at the Kamloops Downtown Library, on Libby, or the Rainbow Reads Library at the TRU Wellness Centre.

Grief
Su***de
Mental illness
Religious bigotry

The meeting is June 28, 1pm at the Rotary Bandshell in Riverside Park. Interested in joining Rainbow Reads? Go to kamloopspride.com/events.

06/12/2026

Make use of free transit on Sunday, June 14th to avoid crowded parking! All day, all routes!

Thank you BC Transit!

🏳️‍🌈 Ride with Pride 🚌
To celebrate Pride Parade Day, transit will be FREE all day on Sunday, June 14, 2026.

✅ Free rides on all routes
🗓️ Sunday, June 14
⏰ All day

Join us as we celebrate diversity, inclusion, and community.

06/12/2026

What to Expect at the Pride Parade 2026! The Pride Parade is almost here, and here is everything you need to know for Sunday, June 14th!

Safety - St John Ambulance and Kamloops Pride volunteers will be on site to ensure things are running smoothly and assist anyone who needs it. Kamloops Pride will be stationed at St Paul St and 3rd Ave in a tent from 9-10:30am.

RCMP Presence - In the interest of transparency and preparedness, this is a summary of what the RCMP has told Kamloops Pride Society regarding their presence at Kamloops Pride events 2026. Kamloops Pride has requested that the RCMP NOT be present at any Kamloops Pride events. However, they have made us aware that they will be present in the following ways:
PRIDE PARADE: A mobile RCMP presence, at a short distance but separate from the parade. The RCMP will be present downtown near to, but separate from, the Pride Parade on Victoria St. and/or surrounding intersections in marked police vehicles.

Accessibility Hangout Zone - We will have a marked area on the sidewalk and street on 2nd Ave between St Paul and Seymour Street acting as a more accessible place to view the parade. This is a trial run for this year, so check it out and be kind! We will have masks, earplugs, water bottles, sour candy, hopefully shade, and volunteers to help. If you need a wheelchair accessible place to watch and a less crowded area please join us! Please bring your own chair if you need one.

Marching in the Parade - All community members are invited to join the Pride Community marching group at the start of the parade. Pedal bikes, mobility aids, scooters, and such are welcome, but no motorized vehicles. Please join us at St Paul Street and 2nd Ave before 10:30am to march!

Parking - Do not park along the parade route or staging area to avoid being towed. This includes all of Victoria Street from 2nd to 6th Ave, 2nd Ave from Victoria St to St Paul St, St Paul and Battle between 2nd and 3rd Ave, and the west side of 3rd Ave from St Paul to Nicola.

Washrooms - There will be an accessible porta potty for parade participants on St Paul Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue.

06/12/2026

What to Expect at the Pride Festival 2026! Here is everything you need to know for Sunday, June 14th.

Safety - Paladin Security, St John Ambulance, and Kamloops Pride volunteers will be on site to ensure things are running smoothly and assist anyone who needs it. If you need help, feel free to stop by the Kamloops Pride Booth beside the stage.

RCMP Presence - In the interest of transparency and preparedness, this is a summary of what the RCMP has told Kamloops Pride Society regarding their presence at Kamloops Pride events 2026. Kamloops Pride has requested that the RCMP NOT be present at any Kamloops Pride events. However, they have made us aware that they will be present in the following ways:
PRIDE FESTIVAL: Officers will not be patrolling the Festival. However, uniformed officers will be patrolling the FIFA watching event at the Rotary Bandshell which is happening at the same time as the Pride Festival on the other side of Riverside Park. RCMP officers may check in at the Kamloops Pride booth at the Festival, or pass near the Festival in their patrol duties. We have requested that they keep to the perimeters of the Festival area and limit any interactions to speaking directly to Kamloops Pride Board members at the Kamloops Pride booth.

Performers - We are pleased to bring some incredible performers to the Festival this year! Hosting, we have Canada’s Drag Race Finalist, PM! Joining them, we have Justin Abit, Stevie Nips, Gul Kaur, Shekinah and the Kamloops Performance Company, and Running with Pianos! We will have a few speeches from the Grand Marshal and current society President and end the Festival with beats by DJ Percusshunkidd!

Drag Story Time - There will be 2 story time readings at 1pm and 2pm by Autumn Horizon on the grass at the northeast corner of our Festival area. Look for the rainbow blankets!

Food - Our food vendor lineup includes Kochi Bao, Kuzina Messer Culinaire, Dave’s Fluffy Treats, Yogi Berri & Crepes, Biggz BBQ and Grill, My Big Fat Greek Food Truck in the parking lot to the northwest of Sandman Centre.

Parking - We suggest parking in the lot at Station Plaza Road and 6th Avenue if you are able to walk about 5 minutes. Closer parking is located near Sandman Centre off Riverside Park E or on Lorne Street. Accessible parking indicated with signs can be found along Lorne Street or in the Sandman Centre lot off Riverside Park E.

Low Sensory Zone - A low sensory zone is being run by LETS and can be found at the north end of our Festival area, closer to the river.

Washrooms - There are gendered, public washrooms near the waterpark just past the Festival area. There are also a few porta potties, including an accessible one, located in the parking lot by Sandman Centre.

06/10/2026

Rainbow Connections: The Rainbow Magic Passport Program

Join the Kamloops Museum and Archives as we celebrate Pride with Kamloops Pride, the Kamloops Art Gallery, the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library, and the BIG Little Science Centre. Participants can pick up a passport at any partner location and receive a stamp for fun, family-friendly activities at each stop. Passports with two or more stamps can be entered to win a prize.

Drop on by after visiting the Kamloops Farmer's Market in this Saturday!

All Ages
Sat, June 13
10:00 am–1:00 pm
Free, No registration needed!!

06/09/2026

Dance the night away to your favourite q***r beats!

Tickets are selling fast for the Stoplight Pride Dance Party this Friday. DJ Kentiffer will be bringing the energy to The Commodore from 9pm to 2am.

Tickets are on our website. If they sell out, there may not be any sales at the door.

Photo creds:
Jess Beaudin Media top right photo (Kentiffer)
OKGN Co. other photos (Pride Party 2024)