Thousands of people descended on the downtown for the New West Pride street festival last Saturday (Aug. 19).
The event featured live entertainment on two stages, roving performers, street activations, and food and other vendors.
For the first time, the festival had a site-wide liquor license, so visitors could stroll along Columbia Street with a beverage in hand rather than having to drink in designated areas.
Some estimates pegged attendance at the popular festival to be around 40,000 between 3 and 8 p.m.
The festival is just one of the many events that took place in New Westminster during Pride Week, which ran from Aug. 10 to 20.
"Pride is an amazing opportunity for our community, both allies and queer people to gather and celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of gender and sexual orientations," Katie Stobbart, president of the New West Pride Society, recently told the Record.
"But it's also something else; while homophobia and transphobia threaten the well-being of our neighbours, friends and family on an international scale, our Pride celebrations are an important signal to our community and beyond that New Westminster is a place of belonging for all."
