Pride Is Awesome Party kicks off World Cup celebrations
July 30 at Bayside Lounge: drag performances, wine and cocktail tastings, DJs, and early evening energy before Pride weekend.
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Vancouver's LGBTQIA2S+ community has a new entry point to Pride weekend celebrations. The Pride Is Awesome Party is launching Thursday, July 30, from 6 to 10 p.m. at Bayside Lounge in the West End, designed as an earlier warm-up before the city's late-night Pride parties get into full swing.
The event is produced by The Alchemist magazine (behind Vancouver Cocktail Week) in partnership with Vancouver Is Awesome and Vancouver Pride Society. A portion of proceeds will support the Pride Society.
What to expect: Photo ops with a local drag star, tasting stations featuring wine, beer, spirits, and non-alcoholic drinks, and two Vancouver DJs — DJ Leanne and DJ Marcella — keeping the dance floor moving. The venue's upstairs lounge offers a quieter space for drinks and conversation. Guests will receive Pride-themed swag at the door.
Barside Lounge sits at Davie and Denman, in the heart of the West End's LGBTQIA2S+ community, with sweeping views of English Bay. The venue has been part of that neighbourhood fabric for years.
"The event is designed to be a fun and full experience without needing to stay out until late into the night," says Gail Nugent, publisher of The Alchemist. "It's almost like a happy hour after work — still a proper party, just in a more accessible time slot."
The Pride Is Awesome Party complements rather than replaces the city's established late-night Pride festivities, offering an earlier option for those who want to celebrate but head home at a reasonable hour.