June is Pride Month, a time dedicated to uplifting 2SLGTBQIA+ voices and celebrating the culture. It unites vibrant street parties with colourful political activism that honours the rights of two-spirit, lesbian, gay, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and many others who identify in positive ways.
St. Albert’s Outloud family-friendly community focuses more on the party aspect and less on activism as it marks the free summer festivity on Saturday, June 17 at Rotary Park.
Running from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the event features continuous all-day stage entertainment ranging from drag shows interspersed with musical performances to a children’s petting zoo, a roving magician, 75 vendors and food trucks.
“This is a time to celebrate the LGBTQ community in St. Albert. It’s a place everybody can go to and learn something new,” said Outloud executive director Kelsey Robbins. “The atmosphere is super bright. It’s a good place for people to go and feel safe in whatever way they want to do. And they’ll be met with kindness and love.”
Folk recording artist Amanda Penner is this year’s featured headliner. Since the queer singer-songwriter received their start at Amplify Festival, the St. Albert homegrown talent has established a warm, introspective brand across Canada.
Honey & Heartache (2019) was Penner’s first EP release followed by She’s a Forest Fire (2023). Through music, Penner has connected with kindred spirits at Edmonton Folk Music Festival (2022) and Lethbridge Roots Festival (2022).
When not working on solo projects, they established the Toadstool Collective, a group of women, musicians, artists, writers and creatives that celebrates and supports the queer community Penner holds most dear.
The folk entertainer is booked to perform at St. Albert Pride from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Drag queens and kings from the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose Drag Show kickstart stage performances at 11:30 a.m. The audience favourites run the gamut from Alice Ghoul, Coco LaQueer and Winter Rose Eh to Gabe Itch, GiGi Ganor and Tia De Vil.
A second drag show, the Party Queens Drag Show, pops up at 5 p.m. with Tugs Cucina, Celine Dejion, Jennie T, Wanda Lust and the quirky Tilda World End, also known as Edmonton’s Sad Clown.
Interspersed between the feature acts — Amanda Penner and the two drag shows — is a series of small bands. They include No Rest for the Wall Flowers, a soft rock band that performs covers and the Sunday Breakfast Band, a blend of original material as well as covers. Alt rock duo Will and Rylan sing classic queer anthems even as newcomers Gaytorade and Page Skogstad create their fresh vibe.
And magician Jay Flair, a frequent guest at the International Children’s Festival of the Arts, will walk through the crowds displaying her mastery of illusion. For young children needing a change of scenery, a petting zoo with farm-raised animals will also be onsite.
“This is a wonderful way to show how inclusive St. Albert is," Robbins said. "There’s always a special energy at this event. You can feel the love. We really focus on targeting everybody and focusing on making it a special experience.”
For more information visit Outloud on Facebook.
