ride Week (Jun 20-29) has come to Toronto, so it’s time to break out those hot pants and celebrate everything fabulous. It’s that special time of year when the Yonge and Church and Queen West gayborhoods transform into massive never-ending celebrations. A seemingly never ending series of parties, concerts, plays, street festivals, and events are on display, giving you’re the perfect opportunity to celebrate or learn about gay culture. It’s also a great place to take your uptight parents to freak them out. Especially when the leather fetishists are strutting their stuff.

There’s so much to do that it can be quite hard to plan your week. So we’ve decided to give you a little help and recommend a few of the finest events.

Official Launch Party
Friday June 20th
There’s no denying that pride week is all about partying. Things should get off to a bang at Woody’s (you never guess from the title, but it’s a gay bar). Expect performances Divinesque, Boytech, Coco La Creme, Toronto News Girls, Fierce Helder, inspirational speeches, and the evocatively named Trojan boys. The best part about the launch party? It don’t cost nothing (aside from the booze of course). Doors at 7:00pm.

Woody's, 465 Church Street, Toronto, ON

Sharron’s Big Gay Party
Saturday June 21st
Beloved theater icon Sharron Matthews is bringing her iconic “Party” to Pride week via the Buddies In Bad Times Theatre. Expect to laugh until your jaw hurts and your pants fill with pee at Matthews’ naughty and witty ways. Guests for this show will include the fab B-Girlz, the appropriately named Miss Conception, and the perpetually gorgeous Jenny Burke. This is one of the many theatre events that Buddies In Bad Times Theatre will be hosting over the week. So if you’re a lover of gay theatre, you may just want to spend all of your time there. Tickets are $20. Starts at 8:00pm.

Buddies in Bad Time Theatre, 12 Alexander Street, Toronto, ON