A sweltering heatwave couldn’t keep thousands of Haligonians from embracing the annual Halifax Pride Parade on Saturday.
Supporters lined Barrington Street and Spring Garden Road to cheer on the more than 150 groups featuring campy and colourful costumes that wound their way through Halifax’s downtown core.
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Spirits soared as high as the day’s blistering temperatures, and crowds kept cool with a little help from spray guns from the floats.
The LGBTQ2 event is a celebration of the queer community, its contributions and its accomplishments.
Sabrina Dunphy and Jana Forgrave were part of the crowd that took in the spectacle.
“Pride is huge in our lives — we’re very proud,” said Forgrave.
“We actually met in Halifax, and this is my first Pride, so it feels very great to be living in a city that accepts us and is so diverse.”
Pride is also an opportunity for people to show their support for the community as friends and allies.
“The parade is so important to just acknowledge the work that has been done for our community, but also to acknowledge how far we still have left to go,” said Jack Carson.
“Coming out doesn’t change anything and it doesn’t change the person,” added friend Chantal Monty.
Halifax hosted its first Pride March in 1988 with about 75 people, some of whom wore paper bags over their heads, not out of shame, but out of fear for their livelihoods and safety.
The event has since grown into the extravaganza seen on Saturday, and at its peak the festival has drawn crowds exceeding 100,000 people.
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The Halifax Pride Festival will run for the next eight days, with a full list of events and activities at Halifaxpride.ca.