Toronto Pride Month 2025 may already be in full swing, but the best is yet to come.
Perhaps the most vibrant month of the entire calendar year in Toronto, the city is once again coming to life with parties, parades and special events abounding, all to celebrate the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
With so much going on for the entire duration of June, organizing your social calendar can be daunting, to say the least. Lucky for you, I've compiled all the need-to-know information so that you can have the month of your dreams, no matter what letter of the alphabet you align with.
Toronto is always a hot spot for dance parties and celebrations, but things ramp up to a red-hot fever pitch during Pride Month. While there are quite literally too many parties to mention (check out our events calendar to see them all), here are a few that should be on your radar.
From June 25 to 29, the Green Space Festival takes over Barbara Hall Park at The 519 — Canada's largest 2SLGBTQ+ community centre — for five nights of free, open-air dance parties.
Each night of the festival follows a different theme, including their opening "Starry Night," which features appearances from drag royalty Symone, The Virgo Queen and Tynomi Banks, and legendary personality Amanda Lepore.
Grassroots operation Underground Pride puts a spotlight on queer indie artists on June 28 at the the Drake Underground, and it promises a night of "wild beats, fierce looks, and dance floor magic" from a hot up-and-coming lineup of DJs, singer/songwriters, Hip Hop artists and even dancers.
If you're in the market for something with a little more twang, Ace Hotel is teaming up with Black and queer-run collective, Function, for their event Pony Up on June 27 at 10 p.m. While the dress code for the party is "Western, but make it you," you can expect a night full of DJ beats, dancefloor vogue battles and surprise drag performances.
The crowning jewel of Pride Month in Toronto is the annual Pride Parade, which draws in an estimated 3 million visitors each year, making it the largest Pride Parade in Canada and the second-largest in the world.
This year, the Pride Parade takes place on Sunday, June 29, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The festival kicks off at Rosedale Valley Road and Park Road and ends with a huge celebration at Nathan Phillips Square.
The Pride Parade isn't the only major parade or march taking place during Pride Month's culmination on the last weekend of June, though.
The Trans March and Dyke March are equally significant annual events for members of the community and allies alike. This year, the Trans March takes place on Friday, June 27, with a rally kicking off at 7 p.m. before the march begins at 8 p.m., while the Dyke Rally is happening on Saturday, June 28 at 1 p.m. before the march hits the streets at 2 p.m.
If parties and parades aren't your vibe, or if you're just looking for even more ways to celebrate the 2SLGBTQ+ community all June long, there are even more events you can explore.
On Friday, June 13, Regent Park's pride festival, Out Loud, is taking over Regent Park Boulevard with an evening of live music, a zero-proof cocktail making class, circus performers and a huge dance party from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Head to Stackt Market on June 21, and you can attend their BACKYARD Pride Celebration, which is totally open to the public and free to attend, and will feature dazzling drag performances, DJ sets, a market brimming with goodies from local queer vendors and good vibes all around.
On June 22, St. Lawrence Market's Market Street is getting the rainbow treatment from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with droolworthy eats from market vendors, fun festivities and a performance from drag royalty Tynomi Banks (on top of a full suite of other queer performers.)
The Church Street Pride Fair is another staple in the city's pride lineup, taking over Church Street from Bloor to Dundas from Friday, June 27 to Sunday, June 29. Drag performances, street dance parties, markets, and live music are all on the docket, including appearances from big names like Rebecca Black, Priyanka, Onya Nerve and Amerie.
No matter what you do, just remember to have fun, be safe, and do what you can to uplift the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Toronto and beyond, not just this month, but every month.
Fareen Karim
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