Your Guide to Toronto Pride
Published: May 30, 2024
Pride Toronto is back, and we’re gearing up for another eventful celebration! Every year, UP Express welcomes the 2SLGBTQ+ community and its allies to Toronto for Canada’s largest Pride celebration throughout the month of June and the Toronto Pride Parade over Pride Weekend on June 28 - 30. UP Express is your ride to Pride Toronto from Toronto Pearson Airport! With affordable fares, arrive in style at Toronto’s Union Station in just 25 minutes and head to the Toronto Pride action. Better yet, travelling with a group from UP Pearson Airport to UP Union Station? Be sure to check out the UP Group Pass to save big!
At Metrolinx, we’re proud to support Pride Toronto since 2012! The theme for this year’s Pride Festival is “Be ______”. Pride Toronto invites everyone to celebrate the right to be united in our fight for existence and acceptance. It’s a call to simply be! Pride Month is more than a celebration; it’s a declaration of collective identity and resilience.
From the iconic Pride Parade to pool parties, Toronto 2024 Pride promises an unforgettable experience. So, let’s gear up to celebrate Toronto Pride with this ultimate guide to kick off your planning!
Kick off Pride Month with the Flag Raising Ceremony
On June 1, Deputy Major Jennifer McKelvie, Members of Council, and representatives from Pride Toronto will raise the Progress Pride flag at 12:30 PM on the City Hall podium roof to commence the excitement of Pride Month. The flag-raising represents the celebration of diversity and unity and the City of Toronto’s commitment to addressing the unique challenges facing 2SLGBTQ+ communities to build a more inclusive and equitable city.
Toronto Pride Festival Weekend 2024
Get ready for a fun-filled Pride Festival Weekend from June 28-30! Attracting over three million spectators and participants worldwide, the journey into Toronto is worth it. Here’s a rundown of some of the events over the weekend (be sure to check out the Pride Toronto Calendar Events for a complete list of events and further details):
- Opening Night – Be Loud (June 28): Kick off the weekend at the TD Main Stage at Nathan Philips Square from 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM with live performances from tastemakers and critically acclaimed artists that will inspire you to take up space and get loud!
- Trans Rally, March & Pride + Afterparty (June 28): Celebrate the resilience, strength, and beauty of the Trans community at the largest Trans march in the world from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
- Dyke Rally, March & Pride + Afterparty (June 29): From 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, march on Church Street & Hayden Street with fellow Dykes and Lesbians! Loud and proud on the streets, specifically for Dykes and Lesbians, ending with the Afterparty and Community Fair – located at Church Street & Gould Street.
- Drag Ball (June 29): The weekend's signature event is back and bigger than ever! For nine hours, the best drag from all over the world will perform at the TD Main Stage in Nathan Phillips Square.
- Pride Parade (June 30): Set to kick off at 2:00 PM, the highlight of Pride Weekend is the Parade, which takes place from the corner of Church Street and Bloor Street all the way down Yonge Street to Yonge-Dundas Square.
Pride Toronto provides an inclusive atmosphere for everyone in attendance! If this is your first Pride experience, check out My First Pride to join other first-time attendees in the Pride Parade. Attending Pride with your family? Check out Family Pride, just steps away from the festival, celebrating the strength and uniqueness of 2SLGBTQ+ families and children. Check out Pride Toronto Calendar Events for a complete list of the Pride events!
Celebrate Toronto Pride All Month Long
Celebrate Pride all month long in Toronto! Pride Toronto has events taking place across the city throughout June. Check out Pride Toronto Calendar Events for a complete list of the Pride events!
- Embrace Diversity: Newcomers Pride Celebration (June 8): Pride Toronto celebrates the resilience of LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers who have found sanctuary in Toronto. Newcomers Pride will provide a safe, inclusive space for all LGBTQ+ newcomers with special events throughout the day!
- Senior Pride (June 15): This is the second annual RAINBOW SENIORS event presented by Pride Toronto and The Rekai LTC Centres in collaboration with Senior Pride Network and Buddies In Bad Times Theatre. It is a FREE event that includes performances from well-known local artists, drag, food, henna artists, and much more!
- TEASE (June 27): Get ready for the ultimate Street Party to kick off Pride Toronto's Festival weekend! Join us on Thursday, June 27th, at OLG Central Stage for a night of hot dance music featuring Toronto's top 2SLGBTQ+ DJs. Dance to hardcore electronic beats and dive into a pulsating sea of sound. Bring your energy and help welcome Pride Toronto's festival weekend 2024!
Arrive to Toronto Pride 2024 in Style
Are you travelling to Toronto to celebrate Pride Toronto 2024? You’re in luck, as UP Express offers convenient and fast transportation into downtown Toronto’s UP Union Station from UP Pearson Station. Arrive downtown in just 25 minutes, with trains running every 15 minutes. Once you’ve arrived at UP Union Station, TTC is accessible within Union Station to head to all the Pride action. Take the Yonge-University Line to Dundas Station, where you’ll arrive at the beginning of the Pride festivities at Yonge-Dundas Square. Plan how you want to spend your time at Pride with Pride Toronto’s Festival Map & Areas. Looking for a place to stay during Pride weekend? Check out our recommendations for the best places to stay in Toronto!
Toronto Pride with PRESTO Perks
Your PRESTO card comes with perks during Pride Toronto! Not only does your PRESTO card allow you to travel cashless and at a reduced fare between UP Pearson Station and downtown Toronto’s UP Union Station, but you can also save 15% on two ticketed 2024 Pride events with PRESTO Perks – simply use the code “PRESTO15” at checkout to save on admission. Check out these two hot events to celebrate Pride all month long:
- ‘Til Sunset: Out In The Woods (June 15-16): Join Pride Toronto for a weekend mini-festival on Cherry Beach with headliners Tempa and Josh Harrison! Don’t forget to use the code “PRESTO15” to receive 15% off online tickets with PRESTO Perks.
- Pride Pool Party with Raja (June 20): An unforgettable evening at Grand Bizarre Supper Club! Drag performances by local drag legends and the iconic fashion legend Raja, RuPaul’s Drag Race Winner! Don’t forget to use the code “PRESTO15” to receive 15% off online tickets with PRESTO Perks.
Pride. Every day. Always.
Pride does not stop at a one-month celebration. Metrolinx is dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive environment for the 2SLGBTQ+ community and its allies throughout the year. Look out for the special edition Pride-themed support vehicles marching alongside us in the Toronto Pride Parade on June 30! No matter your plans, UP Express is your top choice, from Pearson Airport to downtown Toronto’s UP Union Station, which is easily accessible to all the Pride festivities. Check out our fare options to determine which would work best for your journey!
UP Express is proud to support your journey and safely connect our international visitors to 2SLGBTQ+ communities across Toronto! Whether you’re a long-time Pride attendee or experiencing the festivities for the first time, we invite you to be whoever you want to be at Toronto Pride 2024. See you there!