TBShows

~Pride in the Park Events~

This year's Family Festival will have something for everyone! Come celebrate Thunder Pride 2012 at beautiful Marina Park under the open skies for an afternoon filled with fun and games, music and merriment! The aim of this event is to build upon the strength of our community and encourage all people of Northwestern Ontario to celebrate our diversity. The schedule is sure to please a full spectrum of tastes as well as fully engage audience participation throughout the park! Some of the features of our Pride in the Park event will include:

Partners in Pride

Learn more about some of the programs and services available in our community, including health care organizations, social service agencies, faith communities and more. Representatives will be available to answer questions and distribute resources. Some of the participating organizations include Rainbow Health Ontario, Thunder Bay District Health Unit, Lakehead Unitarian Fellowship, NorWest Community Health Centres, Thunder Bay Counselling Centre, Children's Centre Thunder Bay and AIDS Thunder Bay.

Pride Passport

Everyone visiting Marina Park for the day's celebration can pick up a passport that guides them to various destinations around the park. There will be activity stations for children and teens, as well as interactive displays as part of Partners in Pride. Collect stamps at each destination and submit your completed passport for the opportunity to win prizes.

Kid's Activities

Come check out our kids' activities! Kids can get decked out in rainbows, blow bubbles, hula with hula hoops, get creative with collaborative art, and bounce around in a bouncy castle graciously donated by the Thunder Bay Boys and Girls Club! Thunder Pride is a family and kid friendly organization committed to inclusion of every sort of family. Based on feedback from last year, we want to increase the involvement of youth at this year's Park event. We will have interactive and engaging activities for youth run by youth. There will be the opportunity to anonymously ask ANY questions youth may have - and they will be given the not so "straight" answer. Come out and get your hands dirty with colourful dyes and make your own tie dye creation (supplies will be provided).

Artisans in the Park

This year we will feature a range of artisans (Ma Nee Chacaby, Erin Stewart, Cat Free, Cindy Dale, Myra Beck, Danielle Monique, Rachel Mishenene) from our community who will be set up to display their artwork for sale in the park.

Stage

We are excited to announce that the incredible JANE SIBERRY has accepted our invitation to headline our Pride in the Park stage for 2012!! Your entire afternoon will be swimming in a spontaneous soundtrack for an open-minded community. This year's roster will offer up a live stream of musical entertainment, featuring local talents (of both Queer community members and our Allies). Already confirmed to blast their musical positivities from the stage this year are local favourites "outside the lines"; "Tea Time Drive"; "Holly (Baby) Maki"; and special incognito guests ROTFL (T-Bay's answer to LMFAO)! With Thunder Sound (the TBCA sound team) providing the amplification to groove along with in the beautiful setting of Marina Park, you'll be in for a diverse audio-journey from noon through to 6pm on Saturday June 16th... this is the pot-of-gold, friends!

Where to stay during Pride

If you are coming from outside Thunder Bay, or just want to be close to the action, check out the Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel and Suites. The hotel is offering a special rate of $89.95/double occupancy with two coupons for a hot buffet breakfast. You must ask for the "Thunder Pride rate".

Vendors

This will be a picnic setting with a number of vendors on hand, including Norma Jean's, Tastebuds Pitstop, Fox on the Run, Thai Kitchen, Ittibitz Icecream, The Poppin Hut.

Saturday Evening - Pub Crawl

Sovereign Room, 220 Red River Road; free admission/donation box, will decorate

Black Pirates Pub, 215 Red River Road; $5.00 admission

Gargoyles Grille & Ale - After spending the day at 'Pride in the Park', continue the celebration in the relaxing and comfortable atmosphere of Gargoyle's 'A Little to the Left'. Gargoyles will provide an evening of easy-listening live music, together with a light menu and full bar, all beginning at 8 PM for a $3 cover in support of Thunder Pride.

TBSHOWS.COM IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF THUNDER PRIDE 2012