The fifth annual Collingwood Pride Festival is set to bring three days of celebration to Collingwood, Ontario, from July 10 to 12, 2026. Organized by The Rainbow Club of South Georgian Bay, the event has grown into one of the region’s largest 2SLGBTQ+ community gatherings, with a Pride Parade, main stage performances, and a Vendor Village in the historic downtown core.
This year’s festival theme is ‘belonging,’ with the tagline ‘love wins in Collingwood.’ Board Chair Michelle Kemper explained the focus: “We’re really focusing on a sense of belonging this year, making sure that everyone feels that sense of belonging, no matter what they look like, what sexual orientation they have, what gender presentation they have.”
Festivities will take over Simcoe Street, anchored by a main stage featuring drag performances, live music, and dance. Headliners include Tynomi Banks, the Ratskin Family Band, and Queer as Funk, alongside local artists. The Pride Parade and a bustling Vendor Village round out the schedule, which extends the festival from its previous two-day format to a full three days for its milestone fifth anniversary.
The Rainbow Club, founded in 2017 as a grassroots non-profit, serves 2SLGBTQ+ communities across South Georgian Bay, including Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, The Blue Mountains, Meaford, and Clearview Township. Jay Mack stepped into the executive director role in January 2025, bringing a background in community engagement and advocacy. The festival traces its roots to the first rainbow flag raising at the Collingwood Public Library on July 15, 2022, followed by the inaugural Pride Parade the next day—an event that drew an estimated 5,000 attendees despite rain.
This year’s celebration is backed by more than 60 sponsors. TD Bank returns as presenting sponsor, with the Town of Collingwood as municipal partner. Royal LePage Locations North is the $10,000 Saturday Night Presenting Sponsor, and Side Launch Brewing is the exclusive beer partner. Blue Mountain is also among the major supporters. A full schedule of events is available on the festival’s website.
