Halifax Pride Festival 2021 is Here! Here’s Our Date Night Guide to Kickoff Weekend

The 2021 Halifax Pride Festival has arrived! Read on to discover our date night guide to the kickoff weekend in the HRM to celebrate our 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Halifax Pride Festival (1)

The long-awaited 2021 Halifax Pride Festival launched yesterday and is on until August 22. It features over 150 community and Pride organized events celebrating the history, culture, activism, and perseverance of the queer community. The fun-packed calendar consists of both small scale and large scale events organized by the Halifax Pride Society in collaboration with various queer groups and community individuals. For a full list of events during this 11-day gathering, please visit the Halifax Pride website.

The festival was created with an aim to create an equitable society free from all forms of oppression. Its purpose is to create spaces for persons of diverse sexual and gender identities to come together and flourish. It’s important to celebrate your true authentic self each and every day without fear and oppression. As a community, let’s take some time to learn and unlearn to reimagine a system that will champion all voices.

Here is our date night guide to Halifax Pride events happening this weekend: 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 13

EXTRAmurals: Spikeball Tournament
Time: 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Halifax Common

Challenge your date to some friendly competition at the Spikeball Tournament! Every skill level is welcome and no experience is necessary.

Drag Queen Karaoke with Rouge Fatale & Shayla Shenanigans
Time: 6 – 11 p.m.
Location: M&J’s Restaurant & Outdoor Patio
Cost: $10

This 19+ event will test you and your date’s karaoke spark. If you can belt out Don’t Go Breaking My Heart together then it’s clearly love.

QTBIPOC Showcase + After Hour
Time: 9 p.m. to late
Location: Garrison Grounds
Cost: $6.32

Hosted by Cynthia Stilts, these QTBIPOC performers from around the region will impress with a live show on the Festival Site stage. Enjoy a night of drag, dance, music, and more! 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14

EXTRAmurals: Morning Fitness Camp
Time: 10 – 11 a.m.
Location: Halifax Common

Get ready to sweat it out with your date with this morning fitness camp hosted by Jody from RStudios. Bring a towel, some water and lots of energy!

Work Out with North Endurance
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Halifax Common
Cost: FREE

Participate in boot camp style workouts hosted by the trainers of North Endurance – home of West Street Crossfit! Each class consists of a warm-up, high-intensity workout, and core blaster to get out a great sweat! 

Drag on the Mainstage
Time: 12 – 2 p.m. & 2 – 4 p.m.
Location: Garrison Grounds
Cost: $6.32 for 19+ Area (All Ages Area is FREE)

Have a blast at this drag show co-hosted by Craven Blood and Richard Rockhard including a variety of fantastic local drag performers. Be sure to check out the Community Market as well during the event, take a stroll through the Health & Wellness area, and play some outdoor games at the Games Tent.  

Drag Queens Busking
Time: 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Location: Sackville Landing, Halifax Waterfront
Cost: FREE 

Join Shayla Shenanigans and special guests as they busk for the very first time…IN DRAG! 

Queer-Prov Show
Time: 1:30-9:30 p.m.
Location: Page1 Theatre
Cost: $18 Regular, $15 Student/Seniors, FREE for Children 0-11

Enjoy a family-friendly night of improv comedy featuring short-form improv games and long-form improv spectaculars! Dates that will get you laughing together are always a good idea.

Jules Bangsworth Electronic Family Reunion
Time: 8-10 p.m.
Location: Parade Square – Grand Oasis Stage
Cost: FREE

Bring your bubble to this epic house music dance party hosted by Nova Scotia-native Jules Bangsworth! Expect surprise guests, hyped up crowds, and a one-of-a-kind digital art experience.

QUEEN’S RANTING LIVE!!
Time: 8-10:30 p.m.
Location: M&J’s Restaurant & Outdoor Patio
Cost: $10

Deva Station and Rouge Fatale bring their hit YouTube series LIVE to Halifax with their hilarious, witty and oh so naughty show.

Testing! Testing! Queer Music Showcase + After Hour
Time: 9 p.m.
Location: Garrison Grounds
Cost: By Donation

Enjoy a night of queer live music by an amazing line-up of local talent. Host Michelle Reign will get you amped up to bring Burry, Century Egg, Dance Movie, and Hillsburn to the stage. 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 15

EXTRAmurals: Pride Bike Ride 
Time: 10-11 a.m.
Location: Halifax Common

Grab your bike, helmet, and date and head to The Commons for a community bike ride.

Music on the Mainstage
Time: 12-4 p.m.
Location: Garrison Grounds
Cost: $6.32 for 19+ Area (All Ages Area is FREE)

As the first weekend of the Pride continues, enjoy a full afternoon of musical performances by the Halifax’s Gay Men’s Chorus and The Women Next Door, followed by an amazing variety of local 2SLGBTQIA+ musicians, culminating with a set from Kim Harris

Queering the World Welcome BBQ
Time: 4-6 p.m.
Location: Garrison Grounds
Cost: FREE

This is the perfect event for any 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomer to Halifax for a chance to mix and mingle as well as celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community here and around the world. COVID-permitting, there will be a small BBQ, music from around the world, and great conversations. 

Sackville Business Association’s Summer Concert Series 
Time: 7-8 p.m.
Location: Acadia Park
Cost: FREE

Local up-and-coming artist, Landon Duquette, will be performing at this Pride-themed concert in Sackville’s Acadia Park. Bring a chair and blanket for a sweet date night in the park!

Gaga in the Garden
Time: 8-11 p.m.
Location: The Garden Halifax
Cost: $15

Go gaga at The Garden during this Lady Gaga-themed event! Enjoy drag performances of Gaga’s most iconic songs. 

Make sure to continue to make the most of the summer we have left and plan some amazing date ideas in Halifax in August! For more date night inspiration, click here!

We are dedicated to growth, feedback and continuing to properly honour the causes we share about. For any feedback, mistakes or changes regarding this article, please contact us at info@itsdatenight.com

Source: https://www.halifaxpride.com/

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