Your Guide to WinterPRIDE!
Twenty-four years of LGBT pride in Whistler this year! Now one of North America's largest pride events, Whistler Pride is approximately 3,000 people from around 24 countries celebrating all things winter and Whistler for 8 days and nights.
It can get crazy, so staying in Pemberton is a perfect option for people who want to be part of all the action but also need a quiet place to retreat and rejuvenate before setting out on the slopes the next morning.
Skiing and boarding tie the event together but the mountain is just the beginning. From bungee jumping to sledding to the immortal après, the week is full of activities to rekindle old friendships and make new ones.
Take a look at this great guest blog post by the founder of Homorazzi, Patrick Levesque. He'll be returning this year to make 2016 his 8th consecutive year at Whistler Pride - and, as he notes in his post, the seed for Homorazzi was actually planted at that first Whistler Pride event 8 years ago.
Add a Retreat to Your Whistler Pride
Whistler Village teeming with 3,000 people from 24 countries makes Whistler Pride one of the most exciting LGBT pride weeks in North America. Attendance is a must. How can you take this experience to the next level? By adding in a little authenticity in the form of a Pemberton retreat each night.
The hustle and bustle of the village scene is enthralling and rejuvenation becomes an absolute necessity if you are going to be at your best for the events - both day and night.
Pemberton offers that dose of natural calm and groundedness that will take your week to the next level. Starting each morning with a full-on view of Mount Currie, ending each night in the hot tub quietly reflecting on the day's events, ensures that you stay perfectly in the moment throughout Whistler Pride. Take in each spectacular piece given to you throughout the week and enjoy it to its fullest.
The Retreat Next Door - A World Away
There is a slight incline, not quite a hill, as you approach Pemberton valley. You've driven a quick 20 minutes from Whistler Village and the scenery is largely the same: gorgeous mountains and greenery. You're following Green Lake for awhile, too, which adds to the deep natural beauty.
But then something happens. You rise to the crest of that little incline and a valley opens up before you. The expansive (often sunny) valley draws you in. It's hard to believe that this geography is a mere 20 minutes from Whistler. Now, certainly, there is no contest here: both Whistler and Pemberton are spectacularly beautiful. But the chance to experience the calming, often sunnier and expansive beauty of Pemberton within a trip to Whistler? We think there is nothing quite like it.
Whistler Pride: Make it Happen
If arranging all your ducks in a row to attend Whistler Pride this year just isn't going to happen, don't forget that next year, 2017, marks the 25th anniversary for Whistler Pride and Ski Festival. This quarter century of conjuring up magical event after magical event might well be the best week of your life. No guarantees, but certainly worth planning for.
Do take a look at the video for this year, talk to friends who have attended, and start to plan now for 2017...it'll be worth the effort it takes to make this winter festival happen for you - this year or next.
Hope to see you soaking in our hot tub in the near future!
Photo: Mike Crane
Posted: Wednesday, January 20, 2016
