Muskoka Pride Week Mixes Virtual Events With Tailgating, Takeout & Rainbow Road Tours

Muskoka Pride Week will proceed July 18-26, 2020 in an alternative format due to Covid-19, mixing virtual meet-ups with tailgating, takeouts, and drive-in events that ensure social distancing.

“This year’s Pride celebration is very different,” says the organization’s president Merv Taylor-Morin of the annual week that celebrates Muskoka’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community. “Due to Covid-19 we are not able to hold our signature events such as the Parade and Picnic. Instead we have been working on a series of virtual and in-person events that celebrate Pride while ensuring social distancing. Pride cannot be cancelled – it is inside all of us – Pride can only be reimagined.”

“Many larger Pride festivals across North America have been able to hold all of their events online,” adds board member Shawn Forth. “In Muskoka, where internet can be intermittent, we did not want to rely solely on virtual events. Taking advantage of Muskoka’s wide-open spaces and natural beauty, we are also holding some in-person events that are safely socially-distanced.”

VIRTUAL EVENTS

Muskoka Pride Week will feature several events online. The annual Pride church service at Bala and Port Carling United Church is being held Sunday, July 19th through Zoom and YouTube.

Muskoka Pride will be holding a special MQFF (Muskoka Queer Film Festival) Pride Edition through Facebook on Saturday, July 25th. Look for favourite films from the May festival, along with some new films.

On Friday, July 24th Littlewoodsmith presents a virtual reading of “The Laramie Project”. Featuring 15 actors from Muskoka and Toronto, “The Laramie Project” is a play about the community reaction to the 1998 murder of gay university student Matthew Sheppard in Laramie, Wyoming. Registration in advance is required, and is available on the Muskoka Pride website.

Pride Flag, Toni Reed, Unsplash

FLAG RAISINGS

All municipalities in Muskoka will be raising the Rainbow Pride flag on Monday, July 20 and Tuesday, July 21. This year all flag raisings will be live-streamed to the Muskoka Pride Facebook page. Members of the public may attend, but must ensure social distancing and are asked to wear face masks.

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Some in-person events are being held. The annual Mini-golf tournament at Northern Escapades in Bracebridge on Thursday, July 23rd at a special Muskoka Pride rate. A take-out dinner and tailgate party is being planned, along with an evening at the Muskoka Drive-in. Social distancing and face masks will be expected for all in-person events.

The annual Sawdust City drag show has had to be cancelled this year – usually attracting over 100 viewers. In its place, the local drag performers will be hosting Driveway Drag Shows – which have become popular in larger cities during the pandemic. Details and dates will be available online.

Pride Flag by Yannis P, Unsplash

RAINBOW ROAD TOUR

The annual Muskoka Pride Parade and Picnic have had to be cancelled this year, due to limits on social gatherings. The planning committee instead has chosen to bring the spirit of Pride to the main streets of Muskoka’s towns by holding the Muskoka Rainbow Road Tour on July 18th and 26th.

People are invited to decorate their vehicles and join us for a road tour around Lake of Bays (on July 18th) and Lake Muskoka (on July 26th). Participants are asked to sign up at the Muskoka Pride website, and they will receive details about the starting point and checkpoints along the route. Face masks and social distancing will be expected.

Everyone, no matter how you identify, is welcome to attend Muskoka Pride events. To see a full schedule of events go to www.muskokapride.com 

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