MANITOULIN—Time to embrace the Rainbow! Manitoulin Pride Week hosted by Pride Manitoulin and Mnaamodzawin Health Services kicks off on Thursday, August 8 with the raising of the Pride Flag at the flagpoles on the Little Current town docks (down past Market Garden Pavilion) and a Queer Trivia Night at the Anchor Inn starting at 8 pm (this is a 19+ licenced event)—but there is plenty going on throughout the week for all ages.
“There will be all kinds of events,” confirmed organizer Rebecca Milne, Mnaamodzawin Health Services allied health manager. “The whole purpose of Pride Week is to celebrate inclusiveness, no matter who you are or who you love. This is a family-friendly event.”
The week’s events also span the Island and its inherent diversity.
Friday will see a number of informative educational opportunities, including Two-Spirit Teaching with Bobby Hudon at the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation in M’Chigeeng from 11 am to 12 pm, followed by a Two Spirit Drum Circle with Veronica Johnny from 1:30 to 3:30 pm.
You can pick yourself a rainbow bouquet at U-Pick the Rainbow by Island Roots Flower Farm (6975 Highway 551 in Mindemoya) from 4 to 5 pm.
A Pride Sunset Music Series will feature Nettish and her Band at Huron Island Time on the Providence Bay boardwalk from 6:30 to 9 pm.
What promises to be a real weekend highlight is the FOAM Party Concert at Low Island in Little Current on Friday, August 9 featuring a Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Shania Twain, Tina Turner and Cher tribute band from 7 to 10 pm.
Saturday, the fun keeps coming with creativity workshops at the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre in Little Current from 10 am to 12:30 pm, while on the other side of the Island Split Rail Brewery will be hosting live music with Nettish, Clua Arcan and Kelly Brewer from 1 to 3 pm in Gore Bay.
In Aundeck Omni Kaning’s 4 Directions Complex there will be Intro to Archery with Rainbow Hood while back in Little Current at the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre an Express Yourself makeup tutorial will run from 3 to 5 pm. Over in Providence Bay, a PRIDE Sunset Music Series will take place from 6:30 to 9 pm on the boardwalk.
In Little Current, it’s Queer Music Bingo at the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre from 7 to 8:30 pm followed by the Drag Show and Dance, with music by DJ Tom A Haw from 9 pm to 1 am.
Sunday, a Pride Christian Worship Service will take place at Little Current United Church starting at 10 am, followed by the annual Pride Parade, which will start at the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre at 11:30 am, winding up at the United Church for a barbecue featuring music by DJ Tom A Haw at 12 pm.
Pride Weekend on Manitoulin promises to be a great deal of fun for all the family as the Island celebrates its diverse peoples with an inclusive and informative event.
