Montreal Pride Festival Takes The Queer Dance Party To New Heights
Montreal's Pride Festival kicks off this week with over 100 events through August 15, culminating in a spectacular nighttime finale atop a city landmark.
Faced with changing pandemic protocols, organizers have pivoted away from the usual outdoor gathering in Faubourgs Park, and last year’s fully virtual edition, instead planning a hybrid series of one-of-a-kind events.
"Quality has improved a lot and there’s this mix of having events with the public. It's going to be different from last year, and from any other year actually," said Jean-François Perrier, Pride's interim general director.
"The pandemic hasn’t been easy for anyone, but it has been especially isolating for 2SLGBTQ+ communities. It was paramount for Pride to bring our communities together this year. We want it to be a Pride for the people, by the people," he said.
Uncertainty caused by the pandemic meant in-person events, like Pride staple Mundo Disko, had to stay virtual. But that offered organizers an opportunity to get creative and to go bigger than ever.
Published on CJAD 800.
