St. Patrick’s Day may be over, but you can still follow the rainbow to Blue Mountain this weekend for a winter pride celebration.
Rainbow Ski Weekend, hosted by the Blue Mountain Village Association (BMVA), returns this Friday through Saturday for the second year, promising a bigger and bolder celebration.
Andrew Siegwart is the president of the BMVA, and his vision for the event is to take pride from the fringes onto the centre stage.
“It’s important to celebrate diversity in an open and transparent way,” said Siegwart, adding he’s attended other pride festivals where the LGBTQ events were quietly relegated to a venue somewhere and not advertised or mentioned in public locations. “Our celebration is front and centre in the middle of the village.”
Siegwart, himself a member of the LGBTQ community, said festivals like this are important for the whole community, but, in particular, youth in the LGBTQ community.
“Queer youth are not engaged, they face the most barriers, and I want them to feel supported and know the community is behind them,” said Siegwart.
He has helped start a social club called the Rainbow Club of South Georgian Bay, where he has found the most value in the opportunity for mentorship and connection between those in the community who are older and well-established in their neighbourhoods and careers and youth or those who have recently come out. That’s why it was also important to Siegwart to make sure the LGBTQ Rainbow Ski Weekend at Blue Mountain was a family-friendly event.
“Family is our focus,” said Siegwart. “There’s something for everyone.”
The event takes place March 22 and 23 beginning with a rainbow flag raising at 2 p.m. at the Village entrance. DJ Alejo will be keeping the music playing in the Village at the events plaza for the afternoon.
Beginning at 10 p.m. there’s a traffic light themed welcome party at Copper Blues featuring performances by Toronto Drag Queens.
On Saturday, Siegwart will be leading guided tours of his favourite mountain trails. The Slalom Rainbow Run, which features skiers heading down the hill and setting off colour bombs as they descend, takes place on Smart Alec at 2 p.m.
Beginning at 3 p.m. there will be family-friendly drag performances on the Village stage.
“Drag has really hit the mainstream,” said Siegwart, adding the daytime show in the plaza is created with families in mind. “It’s a drag show you could bring your grandma and your kids to.”
The content, songs, and costumes are changed for the outdoor performances.
Last year, one of the Queens did a performance to a song from the kid’s film Frozen.
“It’s channeling the talent in a different way,” said Siegwart. “This is a good opportunity to see the mainstream of drag as an art form.”
In the evening on Saturday there’s a Hat and Helmet Apres Party from 3-6 p.m. at Twist Martini Lounge also featuring drag performances, and an After Dark Party starting at 9 p.m. at Smash Niteclub, also featuring drag performances.
“Everyone is welcome,” said Siegwart.
There are also other events being hosted by various Village businesses like a patio karaoke party at Rusty’s and Brew-ga (beer and yoga) at Iwa Spa.
“The Village is all about culture, music, and diversity,” said Siegwart.
He said the response to Rainbow Weekend last year was, for the most part positive. He had a couple complaints, but wasn’t bothered by them.
“You’re not being relevant and authentic with your programming if it’s so universal everyone wants it,” said Siegwart. “Sometimes you have to do things on the edge because that makes it authentic and relevant.”
For more event details and booking information for the second-annual LGTBQ Rainbow Ski Weekend at Blue Mountain, click here.
