Plan Your Visit
- Elk Valley Pride Festival
Small-Town Welcome with Big Festival Energy
Welcome to Fernie
Experience small-town welcome with big festival energy at the Elk Valley Pride Festival. Nestled in our picturesque mountain community, our celebration brings together the warm hospitality of rural life with the vibrant energy of pride celebrations everywhere.
Whether you’re a local resident or traveling from afar, we’ve created this guide to help you make the most of your festival experience. From transportation information, accommodation options, where to get grub, and other community activities to do while you’re here, everything you need to plan your perfect pride weekend is right here.
Join us as we transform our charming valley into a colorful celebration of love, diversity, and inclusion!
Curious what we get up to at the Elk Valley Pride Festival?
Coming from the USA?
We are Thrilled You're Coming!
Here are a few handy things to know:
$1 USD = $1.37
September typically sees highs of 62f and lows of 39f, with average rainfall of 1.2 inches for the whole month.
And yes, you’re going to need your passport to cross the border!
Getting Here
Parking in Fernie is free!
Fernie has a robust EV charging network of free and paid locations, including charging at one of our accommodation partners, the Fernie Fox Hotel.
Here’s how long it takes to drive to Fernie from common home-bases of festival-goers.
Note: times do not include stops or border crossings.
- Calgary, AB - 3 Hours
- Kimberley, BC - 1.3 Hours
- Whitefish, Montana - 1.5 Hours
- Kalispell, Montana - 2 Hours
- Nelson, BC - 4 Hours
- Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - 4.25 Hours
- Spokane, Washington - 5 Hours
- Edmonton, AB - 6.5 Hours
- Saskatoon, SK - 9 Hours
Accommodation Partners
We are pleased to receive generous support from our accommodation partners, both for the festival and throughout the year. Please mention that you are attending Elk Valley Pride Festival when booking.
Fernie is home to many accommodation options, including hotels, RV parks, airbnbs and VRBOs.
A key sponsor of the Fernie Pride Society and the Elk Valley Pride Festival, the Park Place Lodge is centrally located, 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and dedicated partners to Pride. They welcome you to stay with them for the festival.
The Fernie Fox Hotel is another long-time sponsor and in 2025 became a Rainbow Registered business, certifying their practices as being welcoming, safe and affirming for 2SLGBTQI+ guests, staff and community members.
What Can You Expect at the Festival?
Activities & Events
The Elk Valley Pride Festival includes evening activities on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by full day activities for Friday and Saturday, plus a half day Sunday.
Annual favourites include:
- Movie Screening
- Flag Waving & Decorated Bicycle Parade
- Outdoor Activities like guided hiking and mountain biking
- Youth Events
- Children’s Storytime
- Author Interview & Talk
- Lunch & Learn
- Outdoor Festival with music, vendors, beer tent, children and adult activities
- Spirit & Song live musician
- Brewery Afternoon
- Big Evening Event like a drag show or queer prom
- Drag Brunch
- Plus a host of events that change up each year to keep things fresh
Accessibility
Featuring events for people of all ages, taking place in 100% universally accessible venues, and being 95% free of cost to attend, the Elk Valley Pride Festival is truly a festival for everyone.
Gender Neutral Washrooms
We are pleased to have an inclusive washroom guide available in print locally, and online.
Where should we eat? What else should we do?
Restaurants & Coffee Shops
Fernie Pride is thankful for the support of many of our local establishments.
Big Bang Bagels is a great stop for breakfast or lunch.
The Loaf Italian Restaurant offers pizza, pasta and more from brunch through to dinner.
Miner’s Mud is the perfect place to grab a coffee and muffin if you are staying at the Fernie Fox Hotel.
There are many, many more great places to visit in Fernie. Check out our inclusive washrooms guide to find places with gender neutral washrooms.
Things To Do
Visit the Tourism Fernie Website for heaps of information on what to do in Fernie.
The Fernie Visitor Information Centre is a Rainbow Registered location and happy to help you plan any time spent outside of the festival.
Fernie is known for its accessible outdoors, with an extensive trail network for hiking and biking. There are multiple art galleries, tons of live music, spas, fly fishing, disc golf, golf, motorsports and more.
Get a custom guided hike from Hike Fernie, another Elk Valley Pride Festival sponsor.
What to Bring
Your favourite rainbow-wear, of course!
You can add to your collection by grabbing some of our festival merch – there’s new shirts and socks available every year, plus a selection of year-round Fernie Pride Society gear.
Fernie in September can see a variety of weather, so be sure to have a rain jacket, appropriate footwear and sports clothes if you are going to participate in any of the outdoor activities, and layers to adapt to anything from 10 degree celsius (50f) through to 30C (86f).
Tip money – if you are attending one of the drag events. Read our Drag Etiquette Guide here. We will also have packs of $5 bills available at drag events.
Questions?
If you have any questions about attending the Elk Valley Pride Festival we’d love to hear from you.
Contact us via email or send us a DM on Instagram or Facebook.