Elliot Lake city council is being asked to roll out the welcome mat for the city’s seventh annual Pride Festival next month.
At its meeting Tuesday night, a group including Elliot Lake Pride Committee members Chantal Vaillancourt and Douglas Elliott and Northern Ontario Pride Network rep Greg Lawrence will bring Mayor Dan Marchisella and members of council up to date on their plans for this year’s celebration.
It's to recognize and honour members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, two-spirit and intersex (LGBTQ2SI) community.
The city is being asked to fly Pride flags at City Hall and other locations though the weekend starting with a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall on May 24.
Organizers tell ElliotLakeToday the Pride Festival will get underway the night of May 23 with a Movie Night film showing of the The Fruit Machine at the Palace Theatre 2 in Blind River.
During the day May 24, there will be Pride flag raisings at Elliot Lake City Hall along with others in Blind River, Spanish, Serpent River First Nation and Township of the North Shore. Watch for times and exact locations on the Elliot Lake Pride website.
On May 24, for those 18 and over, it's "blingo" from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Moose Lodge. Following that, at 9 p.m., the event kickoff party takes place at nearby Fireside Classic Grill just off Highway 108.
May 25 is parade day. The Elliot Lake Pride Festival parade procession will wind through town from its marshalling space in the parking lot at Hampton Inn on Highway 108. It will roll out starting at 11 a.m. A barbecue to follow will be held from 12 to 4 p.m. at Elliot Lake Secondary School. The "Miss Conception" show will be presented in the gymnasium at Elliot Lake Secondary School at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15. Doors open at 6 p.m.
The after-party that night will be hosted at George's Restaurant off Highway 108.
The final event of the weekend is a church service at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity United Church on Hillside North.
More information on Elliot Lake’s Pride Festival is available at here or you can email [email protected] for additional information on ticket availability, pricing and other Elliot Lake Pride details.
The group’s offices are located at 31 Nova Scotia Walk, Unit 307, Elliot Lake. Call the office at 705-878-3642 for more information.