Pride flag raising kicks off Windsor’s PrideFest

Windsor’s Pride flag has been raised ahead of PrideFest in the city.

Windsor’s PrideFest is officially underway with the Pride flag raising at city hall.

Over 200 were in attendance to kick-off Windsor’s Pridefest 2025.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and Windsor Pridefest president Wendy Nicholson did the honours of raising the flag.

The flag symbolizes the struggle for equality, human rights, and the fight against homophobia, bigotry, and alienation.

PrideFest runs from Aug. 1 to 10, with several events taking place in Windsor-Essex, including the Pride Shabbat Dinner Friday evening at the Barbershop Bar, and a disco party Friday night at Disco Inferno.

In addition, there are many family-friendly events over the duration of the festival including activities and musical performances at Lanspeary Park Aug. 8 to 10, culminating with the pride parade. The parade is a symbol of the inclusion and harmony the festival is all about.

Wendy Nicholson is the president of Windsor Pridefest. Nicholson is enthusiastic about the community support but cautions that the struggle continues to have basic human rights guaranteed to everyone, without exception.

“Why do you still need Pride? Well, it’s the bigotry,” said Nicholson.

“And I spoke on that in my speech. The homophobia, the racism. Every phobia and ism that you can put in there. This is why we still need Pride. We just want to bring the love. We want to bring everybody together. We just want to have everybody live in peace.”