Memorial Park will again play host to the annual Delta Pride Picnic, which is returning for the fifth time in six years because of overwhelming support from the community.
The event, which originally started because of a Facebook post by a mother wondering about pride events in the city to attend with her queer child, has grown exponentially since that first event in 2018.
Jenn Curll, a local drag performer and a member of the Delta Pride Society’s board, grew up in Ladner and attended the first event. They were able to donate $2,500 to the Delta Pride Society to help with events like the picnic, after winning the title of Mr. Gay Vancouver in 2020 and 2021.
“In 2018, when they did their first pride picnic and I went to that, I remember sitting there…and I remember thinking, ‘This is amazing. My little community has queer space’”, said Curll. “When I became Mr. Gay, the biggest reason I chose to [accept the title] was that I love that little picnic. I wanted to see it grow.”
Delta Pride Society board member Christa Horita Kadach is excited to see what the event has become and what it means to the Delta community.
“I think a pride event is an important and safe space in any community for bringing together community members and to come be themselves and meet other people and allies,” she said. “In Delta specifically, there have been many acts of hate and vandalism, and it just makes it much more evident that these spaces are now just more important than ever. Delta Pride’s very grateful to be able to continue to create spaces alongside the City of Delta.”
This year’s picnic, on Sunday, Aug. 20, will have food trucks, vendors, support organizations, and a variety of performers, including a drag show and dancers.
Horita Kadach also teased that there’s going to be an extra element this year in collaboration with Four Winds Brewing.
The event is open to everyone, running 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Memorial Park in Ladner.
“Delta Pride Society is here for Delta, and the pride community and the allies and people who want to grow in their allyship,” said Horita Kadach.
Curll, Horita Kadach, and the other board members are all volunteers, and said that the best way to help is to get involved.
For more information or to reach out, visit deltapridesociety.ca.
