Jasper Pride is growing and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever. The Jasper Pride Weekend Committee and OUT Jasper are eagerly awaiting their 4th annual weekend of Pride festivities, taking place in tranquil and majestic Jasper, Alberta from April 12th to 14th.

Jasper Pride started as a purely local event, but now has grown beyond their expectations.  Last year organizers were proud of the nearly 300 people in attendance at their main events.

Jorge, the spokesperson for Jasper Pride was more than eager to chat with GayCalgary Magazine about this year’s festivities. Over the past few years guests from Calgary, Edmonton, Grand Prairie and British Columbia have been flocking to Jasper for the festivities, and for good reason, states Jorge: Jasper has become a very LGBTQ friendly travel destination in Alberta. As he tells us, Hotels offer special Pride packages, and there are an abundance of Gay Friendly bars with the rainbow colours on their buildings. "Most businesses in town carry our Pride poster.  That’s remarkable for a small community like Jasper," says Jorge with a clear sense of pride in his community.

The 2013 edition of Jasper Pride has many first time partnerships. For instance, the local Gay-Straight Middle- and High-School Alliance is officially taking part this year. The Alliance will be offering a pancake breakfast for LGBTQ youth and their families and friends.

Furthermore, Jasper Pride will be partnering with prominent LGBTQ organizations from Alberta, like Fairytales Presentation Society from Calgary, as well as ARGRA.

First and foremost, Pride is about celebrating; celebrating who you are, the life you lead and those you love. In the past, Pride festivities have attracted many straight members of the Jasper community to come and join the party.

"This is great, Pride reaches out to all members of society—young, old, gay, straight, local, or visiting. Jasper is unique, and this makes for a very special crowd. It shows that LGBLQ people are everywhere and we feel that we are a part of the community and that’s what we want to show.  The fact that so many of our straight friends show up at the events speaks volumes."

Now, onto this year’s calendar of events!

"2013 will be one of the most attractive and diverse Pride weekends ever," says Mychol Ormandy, Chair of Jasper Pride Weekend Committee. "It will be three days of fun, laughter and enjoyment for visitors and locals alike by fostering awareness and outreach for the LGBTQ communities and their friends."

The weekend will kick off with a Welcome Mixer and silent Auction at Mountain Park Lodges/Marmot Lodge at 8pm. Also on Friday night at 9pm, the "Through the Looking Glass" Party will be hosed at the Whistle Stop Pub, where there will be live music and prizes for Fairy Tale themed costumes!

Saturday will be jam-packed with fun, starting bright and early at 8:30am with a Ski Day, however for non-skiers there are alternate activities such as ice climbing, an ice canyon walk, and snowshoeing. This will be followed by a Brew Tour & Tasting at the Jasper Brewing Company. From 2:30pm to 7pm, there are Après Ski Specials at the Whistle Stop, with live entertainment, happy hour drinks and half price appetizers.

At 5pm, Fairy Tales is hosting an Après Ski Cocktail Reception at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. The dynamic duo joins forces to present an entertaining dinner soiree for guests in the grand Mary Schaeffer Ballroom. Guests will indulge in a delicious gourmet dinner, followed by sneak previews of Fairy Tales best short films at 6pm. Individual ticket prices for the dinner soiree are $44 per person plus taxes and gratuities, and a $5 donation to Fairy Tales (or complimentary with Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge’s Pride Package).

I’m told this year’s must-see is the 6pm "Flicks & Treats" Dinner Theatre at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. This is a new event that will feature a fancy Pride-themed buffet style dinner brought to you by the lodge and Calgary’s Fairy Tales Presentation Society.

The traditional highlight event begins at 9pm with "Fairy Tales and Legends" Jasper Pride Party at the Jasper Activity Center, featuring the Guys in Disguise Drag Show. This party has been presented every year since the start of Jasper Pride, and reportedly is hugely popular amongst Pride goers.

To finish a fantastic weekend, there will be two superb events on Sunday. From 9:30am to noon there will be the first ever Cowgirl-Cowboy breakfast at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. This event will have live country music performed by Hashmagandi. And the final event of the weekend will take place from 11am to 1:30pm: the Pajama Breakfast and Fashion Show at Cassios Italian Restaurant. The fashion show begins promptly at noon.

The goal of Jasper Pride is to showcase the LGBT community for all to see, and Jorge firmly believes Jasper Pride will garner support from all walks of life. Some are still unsure about their sexual identity, and Jasper Pride is an opportunity to connect and have fun.