The Lacombe Pride Society’s community-wide celebration, Lacombe Pride Weekend, is back from Aug. 23 to Aug. 25 with a variety of events, activities, and learning opportunities for all Central Albertans to enjoy.
“It's really important to invigorate that community of inclusion so that everyone feels they can live here and can exist as themselves and safely,” said Jonathan Luscombe, Lacombe Pride Society executive director. “There's a broad welcoming to people to understand what pride is, understand the community, celebrate, and really just enjoy each other's company.”
This year’s Pride Weekend theme is Resilience.
“When we stand together, we're stronger together, and we can really weather anything. Love overcomes hate, it's a really big push right now and there's a lot of things happening in the world that's scary when it comes to LGBTQIA2S+ rights,” Luscombe said. “This is the time for us to let that go, experience each other's joy, come together as a community and celebrate all of the differences that make us so unique and so beautiful.”
A flag raising ceremony at the Michener House will kick Pride Weekend off on Friday, (Aug. 23) from 10 a.m. until noon.
“When we're raising the progress flag which has the 2 Spirit emblem, it reinvigorates that this community is for everyone,” Luscombe said. “Although a lot of harm has been done to 2 Spirit people in the community from past settlers, it's time for us to move forward together, really try and reconcile relationships, and how we can better understand each other.”
The flag raising will be followed with an EveryBody Swim event, Pride Corner on Whyte Pop-up, and Pups and Pints.
Saturday (Aug. 24), events kick off with Pride in the Park from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., featuring a vendor market, crafts and games, mainstage performances, and a BBQ at the Lest We Forget Park.
Later in the day is the Paint the Town Gay 18+ Drag Show, at the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre at 7:30 p.m.
"With this cast, I really wanted to showcase the diversity when it comes to the different types of drag performers out there,” Luscombe said. “It really showcases a very different perspective of drag, and not just one type. It's really a unique show, and it's going to be a lot of fun.”
Lacombe Pride Weekend will wrap up on Sunday (Aug. 25), with an afternoon of learning and community with the 2 Spirit Learning Day and Picnic at PoPows Park from noon to 2 p.m.
During last year’s Pride event, the society received a lot of feedback that more 2 Spirit engagement was needed.
“We’ll kick off Pride in the Park with a pipe ceremony with an elder. He will be opening our day with good intention and showcasing Indigenous culture,” Luscombe said. “Building on that diversity aspect was a big thing for us and a big thing for a lot of people.”
The society also heard from Pride event attendees that additional programming was needed in the community.
After the event, the Pride Society developed programs including Rainbow Underground, Caregiver support groups, and adult game nights.
“A lot of the feedback was that people wanted to continue the connection aspect of what pride brought and they wanted to see it built up more,” Luscombe said.
Throughout the event, Luscombe is hopeful that Central Albertans come to the event, feel safe, celebrate who they are, and leave happier than when they arrived.
“We want people to feel like they have been seen and heard, feel like there's someone standing up for them, and making sure that they feel welcomed in the community,” Luscombe said. “This weekend is meant to just be a really happy one. It's meant to leave people with a sense of belonging, a sense of joy, and to build connections.”
For people outside of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, Luscombe is hopeful they are open to learning about pride.
“We want to create a community for everyone,” they said.
For more information on the Lacombe Pride Weekend, click here.
