Queen City Pride Parade returns to Regina on Saturday

The Queen City Pride Parade returns to Regina’s streets Saturday, and will be at full capacity for the first time since 2019.

The parade coincides with Pride Month, which lasts throughout June.

Pride events began on June 3 with the Queen City Pride Festival, which allows the public to celebrate and learn about the LGBTQ+ community. That festival will last until Sunday.

According to parade and festival co-chair Dan Shier, Saturday’s parade will be the day for the community to come together and celebrate Pride.

“Saturday is kind of our big Pride day with the Pride parade,” he stated. “Following after is our big festival in Wascana Park with live entertainment, beer gardens, vendor markets and so much more.”

The parade will start at noon on Saturday and begins on 15th Avenue and Broad Street. Participants will then march north onto Lorne Street before heading south on Albert Street towards the legislature.

The parade will lead to some road closures in those areas until about 2 p.m.

Shier says it’s great to see the Pride parade back and being celebrated in Regina.

“This is going to be the first opportunity we have to invite everyone back to the parade,” he said. “In the past, we’ve had to scale it back a little bit to make sure we’re being safe and considerate of the (COVID-19) restrictions at the time.”

According to Shier, 80 people have registered to participate in the parade this year, down from previous years. He hopes that number will grow as the parade draws closer.

“I think we’re just really excited for the parade to be happening again and excited to bring back the outdoor festival in the park,” Shier said. “Hopefully everyone will enjoy a full afternoon and evening with festivities in the park. (There’s) lots to do and lots to see and I’m looking forward to it.”

For the first time, Saturday’s celebrations in Wascana Park are to continue until 11 p.m.