Everyone loves a colourful parade and for the first time in its five year history, Lethbridge Pride Fest will be hosting one in celebration of its half-decade anniversary.

"We’re excited to celebrate our anniversary in style with the community," Lethbridge Pride Fest Society chair Reid Hollander says. "And we’re having a parade, which is a definite first for Lethbridge."

The parade will take place at noon on Saturday June 22nd and Hollander invites everyone to cheer on the procession along its route, starting at City Hall and heading north on Stafford Drive. Some confirmed participants in the parade include ARGRA, The Lethbridge HIV Connection and the Lethbridge Roller Derby Guild, just to name a few.

"It’s going to be a lot of fun and we really encourage people to come out and watch if they aren’t (already) in it," Hollander adds.

Lethbridge Pride Fest has grown a lot over its five year history becoming a more public celebration over time, Hollander explains.

"In past years, a celebration of Pride in June meant someone was having a backyard barbecue to celebrate.  Pride was celebrated in private," Hollander says. "From there it became a celebration of friends at a restaurant, probably because of all the dishes that had to be done."

But after a few years, the group needed a bigger restaurant, which sparked "pride in the park" and from there it has grown into a weeklong – and sometimes month-long - festival that starts with a flag raising at City Hall.

And as the festival grows, so does the entertainment.  There is a ton on tap, focusing on local talent and popular headliners.

"Shaela Miller and the Emma Austin Band are coming back for an encore and the group Cosmic Charlie impressed us so much last year at the Owl Acoustic Lounge we’re moving them onto the big stage in the park. Amy Bronson will be singing solo and we’ve also signed The Ruby Plumes as well."

Barefoot at the Bordello, a group of fantastic entertainers will also be performing for three nights over pride in partnership with the sponsor Barefoot Winery. The group will perform some of the skits from their 10th anniversary show of "Pretty, Witty and Gay", which will be hosted by Lethbridge’s foremost camp queen Didi d’Edada.

"We are very excited this year to have Shangela as our special guest headliner.  Outloud Talent has been very supportive and helpful in making this happen," Hollander says. "She is truly an amazing performer and one not to be missed."

Shangela is of course a renowned drag queen who appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race and Glee, and will heat up the nights of the festival. Shangela has quite the cult following and is a very exciting addition to the festival. She is the self-professed big personality with even bigger hair drag queen that has sprung to fame proving you truly never know where you may end up one day. Following her dream, Shangela is a popular drag entertainer who stars in many television shows and short films now, too.

Hollander is also excited for the return of Fendi Ashleen La’fierce! Fendi, who has had numerous roles in Pride Fest over the last few years, will be performing throughout the week along with newcomer, Delores Van Cartier. Van Cartier grew up in the area, has spent some time out west, and will be coming home to perform for us.

The city of Lethbridge has been very supportive of the festival, say the organizers who are happy to grow bigger in such an accepting city.  Over the last two years the group has been the recipient of funding from the "Heart of the City" initiative and Downtown Lethbridge.

"Both programs encourage activities in the downtown core and we do our absolute best to make sure all of our events are downtown.  Both of these groups have sponsored us now for two years and we look forward to their continued support," Hollander explains. "We’re also very happy to be one of the first events in the new Community Arts Centre for Southern Alberta (CASA).  It’s a great facility and we look forward to using it again."

Hollander would also like to thank the volunteers, the sponsors and the supporters of the event. "Events of this size just can’t move as easily as they do without donations in all forms."