The Elk Valley Pride Festival 2026 returns to Fernie September 16–20, celebrating its 10th year with five days of community events, arts, outdoor activities, education, live entertainment and Pride in the mountains.
Presented by the Fernie Pride Society, this year’s festival stretches across Fernie with events for youth, families and adults, ranging from biking, hiking and skating to workshops, readings, live music and drag performances.
Many events are free, although some require advance registration. Ticketed events range from $10 to $30, with reduced pricing available for Fernie Pride members at some events.
View the complete 2026 Elk Valley Pride Festival schedule and ticket information.
Elk Valley Pride Festival 2026 Schedule
Wednesday, September 16
4–6:30 p.m. — Pride Ride Parade Bike Decoration Station
Fernie Arts Station
Pick up a free decorating kit and get your bike ready for Thursday’s Pride Bike Parade.
5–7 p.m. — Youth Craft & Skate with Grip Tape Girls
Fernie Skate Park
A free evening of skateboarding, roller skating, crafts and community for youth.
6–8:30 p.m. — All Genders Pride Ride
Fernie Aquatic Centre
Fernie Ladies Ride hosts a Pride mountain bike ride welcoming riders of all genders. A Fernie Trails Alliance pass is required.
Thursday, September 17
12:30–2 p.m. — A is for Ally, G is for Gender
Park Place Lodge
Lena Green and Jackson Koski of the Edmonton 2Spirit Society lead a Lunch & Learn exploring 2Spirit identities, their relationship with the LGBTQIA+ community and ways to create more gender-affirming spaces.
The workshop includes a catered lunch and costs $15, or $10 for Fernie Pride members. Pre-registration is required.
Register for A is for Ally, G is for Gender.
5:30–8 p.m. — Flag Raising, Pride Bike Parade & Pub Picnic
Fernie City Hall
The official opening begins with the Pride flag raising at City Hall, followed by the decorated bike parade and community picnic.
The celebration and parade are free.
7–9 p.m. — Rainbow Reads with Robin Stevenson
Fernie Heritage Library
Award-winning author Robin Stevenson joins Fernie author Angie Abdou for a reading and literary conversation.
The evening is free and includes complimentary charcuterie, a cash bar and books for sale. This is a 19+ event and advance registration is required.
Register for Rainbow Reads with Robin Stevenson.
Friday, September 18
10 a.m.–12 p.m. — Drag Story & Craft Time
Best Western Plus Fernie Mountain Lodge
One of the festival’s popular family events brings together stories, songs, crafts and drag performers.
The event is free, but everyone attending — children and caregivers — requires an individual ticket. Fernie Pride advises that the event regularly fills up.
Register for Drag Story & Craft Time.
1:30–3:30 p.m. — Drag King 101
Fernie Seniors Centre
The Backstreet Butches lead a free, all-ages workshop exploring drag personas, performance and makeup techniques.
Registration is required.
3:30–6 p.m. — All Bodies Public Swim
Fernie Aquatic Centre
The City of Fernie and Fernie Pride host an inclusive public swim. Regular Aquatic Centre drop-in fees apply.
4 p.m. — Cheers Queers Pilot Brew Launch
Fernie Brewing Company
Fernie Pride and Fernie Brewing Company launch their 2026 Pride collaboration with a new Tropical Pale Ale featuring pineapple, mango and passionfruit.
The event is free to attend, with drinks available for purchase.
7–9 p.m. — Spirits & Songs with We 3 Meet
Fernie Distillers
A relaxed evening of live music at Fernie Distillers. Admission is free.
8–11 p.m. — Queer as Punk
Fernie Legion
Friday night gets louder with Vancouver pop-punk band Cursed Words, joined by Nelson’s Fabric Softener and Calgary’s Pinball, 1973.
Tickets are $10 cash at the door.
Saturday, September 19
10 a.m.–12 p.m. — Pride Stride with Hike Fernie
Meet at Freshies
Hike Fernie leads a free hike to Fairy Creek Falls. Bring suitable footwear, water and a snack. No registration is required.
12–4 p.m. — Intro to Skate, But Make it Gay
Fernie Skate Park
A free afternoon welcoming anyone interested in trying skateboarding in an inclusive environment.
Pride in the Park
12–6 p.m. — Fernie City Hall Greenspace
Saturday’s centrepiece is Pride in the Park, a free all-ages afternoon of live entertainment and community celebration.
Expect drag performances, live music from Madisun, Cursed Words and The Frontiers, local organizations, artisan vendors, food trucks, interactive booths, button making, kids’ crafts and an all-ages beer garden.
No registration is required.
8 p.m. — Backstreet Butches Drag Show
The Central
The Backstreet Butches take over The Central for a high-energy night inspired by the dance floors and pop culture of the 1990s and 2000s.
Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10, or $5 for current Fernie Pride members.
Buy tickets for the Backstreet Butches Drag Show.
Sunday, September 20
11 a.m.–2 p.m. — Sunday Sip Drag Lunch with The Nuffs
Nevados
The Nuffs return for one of Pride weekend’s established favourites, combining drag performances with lunch at Nevados.
Tickets are $30, or $25 for Fernie Pride members. Food is ordered separately. Capacity is limited.
Buy tickets for Sunday Sip Drag Lunch.
12:30–2 p.m. — Indigenous Language Reclamation with Aiyana Twigg
Best Western Plus Fernie Mountain Lodge
Aiyana Kⱡawat̓inak Paⱡki· Sa’tahtaki Twigg leads an interactive youth Lunch & Learn examining connections between language, identity, culture, land and belonging through Ktunaxa language and her experience as a language learner and researcher.
Parents and caregivers are welcome and a catered lunch is included.
Registration is $15, or $10 for Fernie Pride members, and advance registration is required.
Register for Indigenous Language Reclamation with Aiyana Twigg.
Five Days of Pride in Fernie
Fernie Pride describes the festival as a celebration of Pride and community, welcoming 2SLGBTQ+ people, families and allies from the Elk Valley and beyond.
Ten years in, the Elk Valley Pride Festival has developed into much more than a single celebration. The five-day program brings together recreation, culture, education, family programming, music and entertainment throughout Fernie.
View the complete Elk Valley Pride Festival 2026 program.
View Fernie Pride’s current event calendar and schedule updates.
