Vancouver Dyke March and Festival 2025
- 2 August 2025
- Vancouver, Canada
- Details
<p>Since its first parade down Commercial Drive in the early 2000s, the Vancouver Dyke March & Festival has grown into much more than an afternoon of banners and loud voices. Organised entirely by volunteers and run on donations, the march was conceived as an accessible community alternative to larger pride events that sometimes overlooked lesbian and queer women. Over the years it has become a space where dykes, lesbians, queer women, trans and non binary folks and everyone who loves them can protest, celebrate and connect. The organising collective emphasises that the march takes place on the unceded territories of the xʇwməθkʇwy̩ɛm (Musqueam) and sɛlilwətaɬl (Tsleil‑Waututh) peoples【188473736806930†L62-L75】 and that participants are guests on this land, standing in solidarity with Indigenous communities as well as with the wider gender‑diverse population.</p>
<p>The 2025 edition of the Dyke March will be held on Saturday 2 August 2025. Marchers gather at McSpadden Park at 11:00 am to make signs, chalk slogans and warm up. At noon the group will set off along Commercial Drive, singing, chanting and drumming as they make their way toward Grandview Park; the route is under a kilometre and accessible for folks using wheelchairs or mobility devices. According to the organisers’ schedule, the march arrives at Grandview Park around 12:30 pm, where the afternoon festival officially begins, and events continue until about 5 pm【188473736806930†L62-L75】. This schedule allows plenty of time to visit the community booths and catch the performances while still having the evening free to explore the city.</p>
<p>What makes the Dyke March special is how it brings protest and party together. When the group turns onto Commercial Drive, onlookers lining the street often join in, creating an atmosphere that is equal parts rally and block party. Signs call for reproductive justice, trans liberation and racial equity. A safety team helps direct traffic, and volunteers carry a large Dyke March banner at the front. Organisers encourage everyone to decorate mobility aids, bikes and strollers. Drag kings and queens, brass bands, motorcycle groups and youth contingents all take part. The result is a colourful procession that signals to anyone watching that queer women and their allies are a force to be reckoned with, not an invisible minority.</p>
<p>Once the march reaches Grandview Park, the scene shifts into a festival. A main stage hosts an eclectic mix of performers: local musicians, spoken‑word artists, dance troupes and drag artists share space with community elders and activists. Past editions have seen legendary Vancouver performers like the drag king troupe Man Up and vocalists from the Coastal Wolves drumming group. Between acts, emcees highlight the work of community groups and invite attendees to visit the resource tables around the park. Health organisations hand out information on sexual health and harm reduction. Local artisans sell zines, crafts and T‑shirts to fund their projects. A healing tent offers art supplies and quiet space for anyone feeling overwhelmed. There’s even a “Distro Disco” donation area where people can drop off or pick up books, binders and clothing. The festival’s tone remains joyous, but the underlying message is that queer women’s art and activism deserve visibility.</p>
<p>Visitors who want to make the most of the day should arrive early to enjoy the morning meet‑up at McSpadden Park. Bring water, a hat and sunscreen, as Vancouver’s summers can be warm. Commercial Drive is served by multiple bus routes and the nearby SkyTrain station at Commercial–Broadway, so leaving the car at home makes sense. The march and festival are alcohol‑free, but nearby cafés and restaurants provide plenty of food options. Organisers suggest bringing cash for vendor stalls and donations. Because the event is entirely volunteer‑run, donations of money or supplies are welcome, and volunteers are still needed for roles like marshalling, accessibility support and clean‑up. Check the official website and social media for sign‑up forms and accessibility notes, and consider offering your skills if you’re able.</p>
<p>For those visiting from out of town, the Dyke March weekend is a chance to explore the Grandview‑Woodland neighbourhood’s queer history. Commercial Drive, affectionately nicknamed “The Drive,” has long been home to feminist bookstores, community cafés and co‑ops. Spend Friday evening exploring local businesses and attending pre‑march events hosted by partner organisations. On Sunday, some marchers head to the seawall or take day trips to beaches and parks. Making connections with locals at the festival can lead to invitations to potlucks, bike rides and other community happenings throughout the weekend.</p>
<p>While the Dyke March is a day of celebration, its roots are in protest. It emerged from frustration with mainstream pride events that marginalised lesbians and trans people, and it continues to call attention to issues like police violence and missing and murdered Indigenous women. Speakers often address legislative changes, reproductive rights and the need for safe housing. The march’s organisers consistently centre intersectionality, acknowledging that gender, race, disability and class shape people’s experiences within the queer community. The 2025 march will carry on this tradition by amplifying voices that are too often sidelined and by reminding attendees that pride without protest is incomplete.</p>
<p>Whether you live in Vancouver or are just visiting, the 2025 Dyke March & Festival invites you to show up, speak out and celebrate queer resilience. It’s an event where you can dance to live music one moment and sign a petition the next, where you can buy a handmade button and learn about harm‑reduction services, and where you might find lifelong friends among strangers. On Saturday 2 August 2025, join the procession down Commercial Drive and spend an afternoon in Grandview Park supporting an event that honours the past, energises the present and imagines a future where every dyke can march without fear.</p>