Spirits were high as Bay of Quinte celebrated its first live Pride Parade in two years.
Firetrucks lead the parade from Empire Square to West Zwick’s Park on June 11, 2022. (Photo: Andrew Clarke / Quinte News)
Saturday, the public and businesses came together at Empire Square in downtown Belleville to kick off the 2022 Pride Parade, the first in-person parade in Bay of Quinte in two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Photo: Andrew Clarke / Quinte News)
The parade began at noon, starting in Empire Square and making its way through downtown towards West Zwick’s Park, where Pride in the Park ran from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the West Zwick’s Lion Pavilion, featuring food venues available at Pop-Ups on The Bay, as well as music and other activities.
Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk speaks to the crowd at Empire Square prior to the noon parade march to Zwick’s Park. (Photo: Andrew Clarke / Quinte News)
Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk told the crowd at Empire Square, Belleville and the region is proud to be a place of equality, such as can be seen with the implementation of rainbow crosswalks in the city.
Sabrina Coburn, who helped with registration for the parade says being back in person is a nice change.
“Oh excited, and happy, and happy not to be locked down anymore I guess.”
Pride week ran from June 4 to 11, and was packed with events across the Bay of Quinte region. Saturday’s events were the highlight of a week’s worth of Pride across the Bay of Quinte.
(Photo: Andrew Clarke / Quinte News)
Pride After Dark at The Lounge at Northway, 205 North Front Street, Belleville, from 9 p.m. to midnight tonight, will wrap up Pride Week in the Bay of Quinte.
To learn more on Pride Week and events in the Bay of Quinte, visit Bay of Quinte Pride’s website, here.
