While June’s Pride Month is over, the rainbow flag will be flying for another week in July in Kawartha Lakes.
Pride Week in the Kawartha Lakes runs from Monday, July 7 to Sunday, July 13. There are several events throughout the week aimed at celebrating the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and promoting inclusivity, diversity, and unity.
Kawartha Lakes Pride organizer Rylee Rae is looking forward to this year’s events, especially with Pride 2025 representing the group’s 10th anniversary.
“I am most excited to see love prevail within our communities, at every level and in so many ways,” Rae told kawarthaNOW. “We are here, we are queer, and we are thriving.”
The week kicks off with a Pride flag-raising ceremony at 10 a.m. on Monday at Kawartha Lakes City Hall at 26 Francis St. in Lindsay and culminates with the annual Pride in the Park celebration on Saturday, which returns this year from Fenelon Falls to its original location in Lindsay’s Victoria Park in honour of Kawartha Lakes Pride’s 20th anniversary.
“We usually get over 1,500 guests through the day of the event, but we have lots of community supporters as well,” Rae said. “Being partnered next to the Lindsay Farmers’ Market will also drive up our attendance, I suspect.”
“Although Kawartha Lakes Pride has been under new management (for) the past few years, we love to stay true to our name and navigate this initiative throughout the Kawarthas,” Rae said. “The love we felt from Fenelon Falls in previous years has been magical, but we insist on bringing our events to all Kawartha communities. Guiding our initiatives based on community involvement and support directly impacts where we show up.”
Reflecting on its accomplishments of the past year, Rae said Kawartha Lakes Pride has connected with several local organizations, including educational organization Ampere Association, which now holds space monthly for ongoing Pride events.
Rae added that the Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce has “helped us elevate our organization as a true community partner. Kawartha Lakes Pride has also made other important connections with various groups including the United Way and the Edwin Binney Community Garden and Education Centre, and Community Care.
The Kawartha Lakes Public Library will be taking part in Saturday’s Pride in the Park celebration, offering a tent with activities for children, information on library services with a special focus on the Pride collection, a quiet reading area with children’s books for families to enjoy, and simple rainbow flag face painting for all ages.
The full agenda of events for Kawartha Lakes Pride Week 2025 is listed below.
Monday, July 7
Zumba Dance Party at 7 p.m. at She Shed Fitness (11 Wychwood Cres., Fenelon Falls).
Tuesday, July 8
Drag Queen Story Time with Betty Baker and Butch at 10:30 a.m. at Kindred Coffee (148 Kent St. W., Lindsay).
Pooch Pride Walk at 5:30 p.m. at Adelaide Clinic (1 Adelaide St. N., Lindsay).
Wednesday, July 9
Queer Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at Pie Eyed Monk (8 Cambridge St. N., Lindsay). Register at KLPtrivia.eventbrite.com.
Thursday, July 10
Color Me Proud from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tradewinds Toys & Gifts (110 Kent St. W., Lindsay).
Friday, July 11
Field to Fabulous: A Runway of Inclusion from 3 to 7 p.m. at Edwin Binney Community Garden and Education Centre (50 Mary St. W., Lindsay).
Saturday, July 12
Pride in the Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Victoria Park (190 Kent St. W., Lindsay).
Pride After Dark at 8 p.m. at The Wings World (34 Lindsay St. S., Lindsay). Tickets for the 19+ event are available at KLPAfterDark25.Eventbrite.com.
For more information about Kawartha Lakes Pride and for updates about Pride Week events, visit facebook.com/KawarthaLakesPride.
