Prince George Pride parade drew thousands downtown on Saturday. Photos 250News

Prince George, B.C. – Thousands of residents and visitors gathered downtown on Saturday for the 2016 annual Prince George Pride Parade, followed up on the ground of City Hall with the Pride festival.

Cloudy but dry skies covered the start of the parade at George and Patricia and it  stayed that way as the procession wound up 3^rd Avenue to Brunswick and then down 9^th.  But just as the head of the parade made its way through the Canada Games Plaza and onto 7^th Avenue, the sky opened up with a good drenching of participants and onlookers alike.

Gender issues were highlighted in this year’s parade

However, the rain didn’t dampen the spirits of the Pride paraders.  In fact it seemed to spur them on as the gaiety increased, singers sang louder and dancers moved to a quickened beat.

Members of city council handed flowers to the crowd

The parade included members of the LGBTTQ community from the Prince George area, Quesnel and Vancouver, Mayor Lyn Hall and some members of city council as well as Prince George RCMP Superintendent Warren Brown and some of his officers.

Nechako as well as Prince George Teachers displayed support of the gay community

There was also representation from many social service agencies and service clubs, actors and theatre groups, unions and members of the Prince George business community and supporters from other walks of life.

Support crosses many cultural lines

Since 1997 Prince George has hosted the only Gay Pride parade in northern BC and that remains the case.

Saturday’s parade and festival are the highlights of a weekend of Pride events, which wrap up today with a brunch from 9 am to noon at the Coast Inn of the North.