A week away from launch, the Trent Hills Pride Festival 2022 is emerging as possibly *the* Trent Hills event of the summer!
The week will see its launch in Campbellford on Monday morning, June 20, at the corner of Bridge Street and Doxsee, outside the BMO, with the official unveiling of a bench dedicated to the LGBTQ2+ community, generously provided by the Campbellford BIA. The unveiling will be at 11:00 am.
As announced some weeks ago, the Aron Theatre will screen The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Thursday evening, June 23rd. Tickets are $23 per person and can be purchased here prior to June 23rd or the evening of the film. There will be a cash bar when doors open at 6:30 p.m. What’s new news, though, is that there will be a special appearance by none other than Frank N Furter himself! Frank will open the film with special mention of the live stage production which is coincidentally showing at the Stirling Theatre from July 7 to 24th. Tickets for that are available here.
On Friday evening, June 24, Trent Hills Pride is excited to partner with McGillicafey’s in Hastings for Drags take Over McGillicafey’s. Located at 13 Bridge Street North (Lock 18), enjoy some great food inside or out on their patio and be entertained by some fabulous performers. The evening begins at 7:00 pm and reservations are recommended by calling 705-696-3600.
On Saturday morning June 25, starting at 10:00 am until 1:00 pm, Trent Hills Pride is proud to partner with the library for Drag Storytelling at all three libraries of Trent Hills hosted by Madeleine and Betty Baker. Hastings begins at 10:00 am, Warkworth Library at 11:00 am and Campbellford at noon. Email to reserve your spot: hastingslibrary@trenthills.ca, warkworthlibrary@trenthills.ca, trenthillslibary@trenthills.ca
The Pride Party on Saturday, June 25, promises to be the jewel of the festival. It begins at 2:00 pm at the Campbellford Fairgrounds (315 County Road 38). Mayor Crate will officially open the day’s events. Trent Hills Pride is thrilled to have the company of visual artist, architect, and musician, Dimitri Papatheodorou. Dimitri and his group, The NorthLumberLads will be there playing live, as well as local band, The Blue Rigby’s. When the piped music isn’t playing throughout the afternoon, one of these terrific bands will be entertaining the crowd.
Royalty will host the day’s festivities! Sahira Q is a leader in the Peterborough drag community and is considered drag royalty, having contributed greatly to the drag performance scene there. Betty Baker, also from Peterborough, is a sweet and talented young diva who performs all over Southern Ontario. Madeleine Hamel is a rising star in Cobourg’s drag scene, and Ontario based drag Queen, Banshii Waylon will join in the revelry.
A children’s tent will be set up where Paint Your Own cookies from Anita’s Creations (Cookies Cakes & More) will be available for painting. Anita is also providing beautifully decorated Pride cookies to attendees. And, no festival is complete without face painting – fabric artist extraordinaire, Ixchel Suarez, will fascinate kids of all ages with her artistry.
Remember old fashioned children’s games, before technology stole our attention? Kids will be able to skip rope, play badminton, play games, try their hand at the egg and spoon race. Did you know that one of the first egg and spoon races was conducted in 1897 as part of the Queen Victoria Jubilee celebrations! The sport arrived in Canada apparently by 1922. Inflation rules out the use of real eggs this time, so light weight table tennis balls will stand in for eggs.
Trent Hills Pride is over the moon and then some, to be able to bring a little bit of the circus to the Pride Party! Artistic Director, Thomas Vaccaro, of the Peterborough Academy of Circus Arts, will perform throughout the afternoon. He may even bring some aerial acrobatics on the silks with him!
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs. Water, pop, hot dogs and nachos will be available for sale.
The last day of the festival – Sunday, June 26 – will see the Pride Car-Avan motor through the streets of Campbellford once again. The route will begin and end at the Campbellford Fairgrounds and is available at the Trent Hills Pride website.
Last year’s Car-Avan saw about 40 vehicles join the parade and the route was dotted with enthusiastic well wishers along the way. Once again, the public is encouraged to participate with their decorated vehicles or to greet the parade from street corners.
The parade will begin at 1:00 pm at the Campbellford Fairgrounds and following the return to the fairgrounds, everyone is welcome to join paraders in a “bring your own food” picnic.