Summer in Vancouver always reaches its peak on the BC Day long weekend when warm days and Pride make for a city-wide party like no other. This year Freehouse Collective is filling the weekend with late night dancing, live music, a star-studded drag brunch, and frozen cocktails for a cause.
Freehouse Collective’s Pride celebrations kicked off early this year with the launch of Free to Be, a fundraising campaign through the end of August raising money for the international efforts of Rainbow Railroad by selling frozen “Bright Lights” cocktails wrapped in custom artwork from Toronto illustrator and artist Tim Singleton.
Pride Weekend gets off to a head start on Thursday, August 3rd when Lamplighter hosts the official afterparty for the Gastown BIA’s Rainbow Brick Road celebration in Maple Tree Square with live music from 8pm-10pm followed by a DJ spinning until 2am. The BC Day weekend party continues with special pricing on all BC draft beer all weekend long and live music on Saturday from 8pm-10pm before the DJs turn up to play until late.
Sunday is always the peak of Pride Weekend and Freehouse Collective is hosting parties at the start and finish with a parade watching party hosted at Three Brits by Nathan Fadear and Ilona Verley (Canada’s Drag Race Season 1) who will deliver commentary on the floats as the room vibes with tunes from the DJ. This event will be ticketed, but fish and chip cones and frozen Bright Lights cocktails will be available for takeout from the service window facing Denman Street for anyone too slow to get a ticket. Tickets will also be available at the door subject to capacity.
During the parade, Lamplighter will host the most star-studded edition of Revenge Party Drag Brunch yet with three star performers highlighting the event. Synthia Kiss from Canada’s Drag Race Season 2, Molly Poppinz from RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under Season 2, and JuiceBoxx Canada’s Drag Race Season 1 will headline an amazing drag lineup, as always hosted by Vancouver’s very own Xannax. This event is guaranteed to sell out, so get your tickets soon.
The weekend will also include a Sunday night Pride afterparty at Lamplighter and an extended 4am licences at Cinema Public House and Lamplighter on Saturday. Whatever you’re planning for the weekend, visit freehouse.co to see the full schedule of events and plan your party!
