Thousands attended Surrey Pride Society's 25th Surrey Pride Festival at Civic Plaza on Saturday (June 22).
The family-friendly event included vendors, speeches, dance, and fun in the plaza outside Surrey City Hall.
Surrey Pride's Vice President, Jasmine Broeder, said the turnout was bigger than last year, with over 5,000 people in attendance throughout the day.
Broeder said the event was full of unity, Pride, celebration, and happiness. "We're having a good time," Broeder added.
For years, the Surrey Pride Society has advocated for equality for Surrey's 2SLGBTQIA+ (Rainbow) community.
On Monday (June 18), the City of Surrey raised the Pride flag at city hall for the second year in honour of Pride Month.
Last year was the first time the Pride flag flew at city hall in celebration. The city flew the flag after the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, in 2016, said Rooney.
Earlier in the month, Mayor Brenda Locke, in a proclamation, declared June 2024 as "2SLGBTQ+ (Rainbow Community) Pride month" in the City of Surrey.
In preparation for Pride, the city repainted the Pride flag crosswalk at Old Yale Road and University Drive with the new Intersex-inclusive Pride Progress flag. It also illuminated Civic Plaza in rainbow colours from June 22 to 28.
