Essentials for Vancouver Pride
Photo: Belle Ancell
1. THE GUIDES
Where’s The Pride Guide?
The Ultimate Vancouver Pride Guide is published by Vancouver Pride Society. You can find the printed guide at the following locations: Davie: he Fountainhead Pub, Little Sisters, Pumpjack, Marquis Wine Cellars, Numbers Cabaret, Melriche’s Coffehouse, Score on Davie and Independen Grocery. Denman: West End Community Centre, Delany’s Coffee. Commercial: Womyns Ware, Choices, Britannia Centre.
Or CLICK HERE for the PDF Version
Do604’s Guide to Pride - View it here —>
Vancouver Tourism’s Guide to Pride - good information for out-of-towners. View it here —>
Vancouver Pride Event Info from Miss604 - view it here —>
Gay Vancouver's Pride Guide - clubs clubs and more clubs ... view it here -->
2. PARADE INFORMATION
The Parade Route
Parade Tips
Getting to Pride. If you aren't staying downtown somewhere, be warned it will be extremely difficult to drive and park to view the parade. There are road closures and limited transit starting at 7:00 am. So get up early! Road closures and transit re-routes will be in place until about 4:00pm. View road closure information below. Or here's an idea - why not park over around Granville Island and take the ferry to Sunset Beach?
Accessibility. Pride is for everyone and the Vancouver Pride Society, in conjunction with YVR, have put together two pages of Accessibility information. Parade Viewing Accessibility click here. Pride Accessibility click here.
5 Gentle suggestions. We've been to a few Pride Parades in our day and we have some reminders. 1) It can be extremely sunny and hot. Bring water, a hat, and sunscreen. 2) It will be extremely crowded. There's no opportunity to saunter along the city streets. You'll be in a massive crowd of people. If that's not your thing, be sure to come early and stake out a spot on the sidewalk with chairs. Preferably with easy access to bathrooms! 3) Strollers and buggies do not do well in the crowds. We recommend baby wrapping, backpacks and umbrella strollers. Seriously - this crowd will be dense. 4) Shopping and eating will be easier than you think. The crowds are not in the shops, they're on the street. 5) The parade is long.
Vancouver Pride Parade Road Closures
There will be road closures and transit re-routes in place until about 4:00pm. Check the City’s VanConnect app for more info.
Sunday, August 4, 2019 7:00am to 1:00pm closures
Robson St from Burrard St to Bute St
Thurlow St from W Georgia St to Nelson St
Sunday, August 4, 2019 10:00am to 3:00pm closures
Robson St from Bute St to Denman St
Sunday, August 4, 2019 10:00am to 4:00pm closures
Denman St from Robson St to Beach Ave
Beach Ave from Denman St to Jervis St
Pacific St from Jervis St to Burrard St
Davie Street Pedestrian Promenade
You won’t be able to drive on Davie. The West End BIA is happy to partner with the Vancouver Pride Society to create a pedestrian promenade through the historic Davie Village August 2-4, 2019. The promenade will run through Davie Village from Thurlow to just west of Bute (ends at underground parking lot), welcoming community members and visitors to gather in a public space.
The space will be activated daily during the following times:
Friday, August 2 – 6pm to 11pm,
Saturday, August 3 – 12pm to 10pm (9pm Davie Street)
Pride Sunday, August 4 – 12pm to 11pm.
Make sure to stop by before the Pride Parade and linger afterwards in the afternoon sun.
3. THE EVENTS
Another fantastic line up of events this year. The big button below will take you where you need to go for all the information about times dates and tickets. And be sure to read Tom Coleman’s What’s On Queer BC Guide to Pride Events by clicking here —>
Here’s a screenshot of ome of the events on our calendar.
NOTE: This is a screenshot dated July 23. More events are being added daily so be sure to navigate over to our calendar and choose Vancouver Pride from the Special Event Dropdown
4. Cannabis and Vancouver Pride 2019
The big question that many people will be asking the week leading up to pride is “Where can I legally buy cannabis in Vancouver?”
Thankfully since legalization in October of 2018 the list of legal dispensaries has been continually growing. The Vancouver Sun has an interactive map of all the locations in BC that is regularly updated for all your cannabis needs.
Though for Vancouver Pride specifically there are a few on the list that will be most convenient if you are attending events in the city (especially if you are from out of town and staying downtown).
The closest to downtown is City Cannabis Co. located at 610 Robson St, Vancouver. There are also a location or two in Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant, East Van or South Van if you are living in or staying in those areas check out the map for those locations.
The follow up question to this will likely be, “Where am I allowed to light up?” or “I’m with a few friends at the parade, am I allowed to smoke a joint?”
So here are the basics of Cannabis Law in Vancouver as of summer 2019.
1. The legal age to buy, possess and consume cannabis ia 19 years of age
2. Cannabis smoking and vaping is permitted in all the same locations that cigarette smoking is permitted; as well as prohibited in the same locations as smoking is prohibited including playgrounds, sports fields, skate parks, and other places where children commonly gather.
3. Adults are allowed to possess up to thirty grams.