GayCalgary attends a lot of prides throughout Alberta, and usually we see a specific area of a city that participates in the festivities while the rest of the city is just continuing with their day to day business and not getting involved. You mostly just see people attending from the LGBTQ community with some allies that will join in.

There is a big difference though with Jasper Pride. The whole town has a population of close to 4,500 people plus tourists and visitors from all around the world, and it feels like they all want to be part of Pride. The organization encourages businesses to even participate by decorating their windows and store fronts with rainbow colours, and a large number of them do!  So even though Jasper Pride happens in the winter, there is a lot of warmth from the whole business community.

This year Jasper Pride will be hanging 83 rainbow banners down Connaught Ave so everyone traveling through Jasper will see that Pride is happening.

The 7th Annual Jasper Pride in 2016 is going to be no different. The board has been hard at work making sure their 4 day event is going to excel, arranging 24 events across those days - everything from daytime to evening, outdoor and indoor. There is something for everyone, which makes the weekend very inclusive.

The first event this year is Climbing with Pride, a unique event to kick things off.  The event takes you to Maligne Canyon where you can participate in ice climbing.  Then, later on is the official raising of the Pride Flag in downtown Jasper.

For those who enjoy their snowboarding and skiing, Jasper Pride has their Pride Ski at Marmot Basin.  On Saturday, people dress up in pride colours and there are even activities on the sun deck for those who don’t go for the slopes.  Ice Pride, the extremely popular guided Ice Walk in Maligne Canyon is also available. Read more about it at www.gaycalgary.com/a5041.

If the weather is not too warm and there is still snow on the ground, you can go for guided dog sledding at Pyramid Lake. For those who bring their kids along, there is Family Pride at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge where you can enjoy stories, songs and s’mores.

The Wicked Cup is the Pride coffee house for people to hang out, mingle and play games. Or, if coffee is not your thing, you can attend Pride Martinis at the Jasper Information Centre.

Meanwhile at the Crimson Hotel, Fairy Tales Presentation Society from Calgary will be co-hosting a movie Matinee with Jasper Pride on Friday and Sunday.  This year they are showing "Kidnapped for Christ" (Friday) and "Boy Meets Girl" (Sunday).

At Coco’s Café, they have Young Pride, which an opportunity for LGBTQ youth to sit down and have a conversation with Kate Reid, who performs live later on in the evening at the Jasper Royal Canadian Legion. Read our interview with Kate Reid at www.gaycalgary.com/a5034. Or if you don’t feel like venturing out too far, you can craft your own Rainbow Mountain Monster Pillow at the Pride House.

Buy your tickets in advance for the very popular Movie Dinner Theatre which is at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Every year the event is sold out but people want in so bad that they have set up chairs for those who just want to watch the movies without the dinner.

On Sunday, Jasper Pride has brunch at the Crimson Hotel.  Later on in the day, the weekend activities wrap up with the Apres Pride Party for those who have not headed back home.

Jasper Pride hosts an official Kick-Off Reception at Chateau Jasper, which allows everyone to meet one another on the first night before the 4 days of events begin. Jasper Pride has brought out Lucas Silveira of the Cliks to do a solo acoustic show at the Sawridge Inn. Read our interview with Lucas Silveira at www.gaycalgary.com/a5013.

The launching the official Jasper Pride 2016 beer – yes, BEER – happens at Jasper Brewing Company. Last year, this event was extremely successful to the point where people were purchasing cases of the beer to bring back to drink at their hotels, or to take back home to share with friends and family.

Something new this year is the Bond-age Boylesque Show at the Sawridge Inn (who will also perform at the Saturday night Gala Dance). The amazing Kate Reid will be playing live at the Jasper Royal Canadian Legion. Also something new is the LumBEARjack Party at the Whistle Stop Pub, which will host a best beard contest with prizes, and have live music by The Hi-Strung Downers.

There is also Girls Night Out at the Four Peaks Nightclub which will feature local Drag Kings and have a hot DJ playing at the club. From what we saw from last year, the venue was packed with a line up of people waiting to get in. It is an extremely popular event so show up early.

Saturday night has the "From Jasper with Love 007 Pride Gala Party" at the ballroom inside Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Every year these dances have over 550 people attending which is about an eighth of the population of the town of Jasper. Just pause and think about how amazing it would be if an eighth of the population of Calgary or Edmonton attended a gay pride dance! Attendees of these dances dress up in theme, so don’t forget to bring your spy themed costume this year. There will be amazing performances from local favourite Toni Lester Van Blam and Slimpikins along with Bond-age Boylesque.

Over the past 6 years, Jasper Pride has built a weekend that has steadily grown as people continue coming back and bringing more friends. Book early as hotels and events may sell out very quickly. If you want to experience a Pride that is truly unique, affordable and in a spectacular setting, then this weekend won’t leave you disappointed. In fact, you may find yourself back there year after year.