Several hundred people gathered in Brantford’s Mohawk Park to celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community with the 15th annual Brantford Pride event on Saturday, June 20, 2026..
Mohawk Park was filled with pride as guests roamed the area in colourful outfits mingling with friends and family while enjoying the celebration.
During the event, attendees engaged in a host of activities. While some made arts and crafts at the different booths, others enjoyed a bite to eat or found a spot in the grass to watch a performance or two.
Taylona Z 2nd, Lucy Purr, Charlize Angel, Cherry Bomb, Thera P and Rubyyy Jones took turns engaging the crowd with various acts throughout the afternoon, accompanied by Prinx Lydia at the DJ booth.
“We have a drag show every hour, and in between, Rubyyy Jones is doing some drag story time and comedy for the crowd,” Jacqui Fendley, Chair of the Brantford Pride Committee. “We also have Prinx Lydia here as our DJ, so we’re having some dance parties too. There’s just something for everyone, really.”
With a large selection of vendors and community service agencies spread out along the walkways of the park, many attendees stopped by to learn more about the different services, pick up free swag, make connections or purchase items from the on-site artists and makers.
“We have over 70 vendors this year, so the marketplace is the biggest it’s ever been,” said Fendley. “Last year we had 60, so we’re increasing every year, and it sounds like the vendors and the participants are happy, which is nice.”
The East Ward Echo Place Neighborhood Association, Youth Advisory Council, Contact Brant, the Brantford Public Library, Grand Erie Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, Pet Value, St. Andrew’s United Church, Mazy Way Indigenous Designs, Buzzy Bumble Beads and Sunrise Stitching were just a few of the booths present at the event.
At 3 p.m., people and their pets made their way around the park for a pet parade and were later awarded prizes for most prideful pet, smallest and biggest pet, and most unique pet.
The event also featured a photo booth and a low-sensory area with a tent, shade, water, ice, sunglasses, blankets, ear plugs and colouring sheets for those with sensory sensitivities that needed a quiet break.
When asked how it felt to see everyone out celebrating the day and enjoying themselves, Fendley said it was magical.
“It’s absolutely magical to see so many families, teens and youths here,” she said. “I know we have a lot of newcomers to Brantford too, and so for the people who grew up in countries like Indonesia, Jamaica, or Syria, they’ve never ever seen people out and about, being openly gay with their families, and I’ve seen them with tears of just absolute happiness seeing it.”
Fendley continued, “It’s also nice because this Pride has been going on for 15 years, and so it’s part of a lot of people’s core memories. I’ve heard a lot of people say this is their favourite Pride, and I’m always really happy to hear that. Other Prides are so commercialized and so expensive, but here, you can get a burger, a drink and snack all for $5 which is amazing, and we’re surrounded by these 100-year-old trees that are just magnificent. There’s room to sit, to chat and to visit, so it’s a great day.”
She went on to say that part of what makes the event so special, is all the people who get involved.
“There’s so many local people, vendors and community groups, who are doing the day-to-day work that are here, and that’s really special,” said Fendley. “It’s a true celebration.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
