Tri-Pride
Tri-Pride, stylized tri-Pride, is an annual non-profit lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Pride festival in the Waterloo Region of Ontario, encompassing the cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. Prior to the launch of Guelph Pride in 2003, the event also included the city of Guelph.
The official name of the organization is tri-Pride Community Association Inc. A diverse range of events are held in all three cities. tri-Pride is considered Canada's largest regional pride festival.
This event was formed in 1995 and grew ever since inception. Unlike some larger pride events, tri-Pride does not currently stage a parade, with its two-week-long program of events instead culminating in a weekend concert in Kitchener's Civic Centre Park. Performers at the 2013 festival included Gabe Lopez, God Made Me Funky, Drake Jensen, Sarah Smith and The Ecstatic. The tri-Pride Live Music Festival headliners for 2014 were Thelma Houston and Canadian Idol winner Theo Tams.
The event was extended to a week in 2003, and its 3,000 visitors made it the one of the largest pride events in southern Ontario after Toronto Pride.
The Waterloo Region Record, Labatt Brewing Company, and the local CTV affiliate CKCO-DT have been sponsors of the event.
The 2011 edition included a horse race at Grand River Raceway in Elora, Ontario which was claimed to be "harness racing’s first-ever Drag Race".
