By Chloe Texeira

Several events are coming to Burlington this June in celebration of Pride Month. Listed below are activities for mature age groups and unspecified age groups, including how to get there using nearby public transit.

Pride Month Drag Bingo

Date: Friday, June 12
Time: 9–11 p.m.
Location: Nickel Brook Brewing Co. (3426 Mainway, Burlington)
Ages: 19+
Cost: $12 (excluding taxes and fees)
Nearby public transit: routes 6, 25, 51

A Pride month edition of drag bingo will be coming to Nickel Brook Brewing Co. on June 12. As written on Eventbrite’s overview of the night, it will be presented by Doll Haus Events and hosted by Kara Melle and Ultraviolet, including prizes and drag performances between bingo rounds. The overview states the show “will contain mature language,” and “viewer discretion is advised.”

Doors will open at 8:30 p.m., and the first set will begin at 9 p.m., according to the overview.

Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite for $12 (excluding taxes and fees).

The event is accessible by car and by Burlington Transit buses. Nearby bus stops include:

  • Dillon at Mainway (route 6): 2-minute walk to event
  • Walkers at Mainway (route 25, 51): 8-minute walk to event

Dirty Bingo

Date: Monday, June 15
Time: 8–10 p.m.
Location: The Dickens Pub (423 Elizabeth St., Burlington)
Ages: 19+
Cost: Free to attend, reservations required
Nearby public transit: routes 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 50, 52

In support of Pride Halton, the region’s “primary hub for 2SLGBTQIA+ celebration, education, and support,” an Instagram post details a night of “Dirty Bingo” hosted by Kenadie St. James on June 15. The event will take place at The Dickens Pub downtown, starting at 8 p.m. and ending at 10 p.m.

Pride Halton’s post and The Dickens Pub website both emphasize the requirement of a reservation for this event to secure a spot; reserve here. It is free to attend.

This event is accessible by car and by Burlington Transit and Hamilton Street Railway buses. Nearby bus stops include:

  • John Street Terminal (routes 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 50, 52): 1-minute walk to event

Afternoon at the Movies: The Birdcage

Date: Tuesday, June 16
Time: 1:30–3:30 p.m
Location: Centennial Hall, Central Branch (2331 New St, Burlington)
Ages: Adult, rated R film
Cost: Free
Nearby public transit: routes 3, 4,10, 50, 52

Burlington Public Library is hosting a free screening of the 1996 film The Birdcage at its Central Branch on June 16. While registration is not needed, it’s advised to arrive 15 minutes before showtime. The age group for this screening is “adult.”

The movie’s premise is described by Burlington Public Library:

A gay cabaret owner and his drag queen companion agree to put up a false straight front so that their son can introduce them to his fiancée’s right-wing, conservative parents.

The screening will begin at 1:30 p.m. and end at 3:30 p.m., according to their website.

This event is accessible by car and by Burlington Transit buses. Nearby bus stops include:

  • Teen Tour Way at Central Library (route 4): 3-minute walk to event
  • New at Delaware (route 10, 50): 5-minute walk to event
  • 2331 New (route 10, 52): 5-minute walk to event
  • Guelph at New (route 3, 52): 11-minute walk to event


RBG After Dark: Summer Pride Party

Date: Thursday, June 18
Time: 6:30–10:30 p.m.
Location: Royal Botanical Gardens, Rock Garden (1185 York Blvd., Hamilton)
Ages: 19+
Cost: Adults, $25 (excluding taxes and fees); students (19+), $23 (excluding taxes and fees)
Nearby public transit: routes 1, 9

Located in Hamilton and bordering Burlington is the Rock Garden, belonging to Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG). On June 18, an event will take place where there will be “genre-spanning music” from the DJ, a drag show hosted by drag queen Karma Kameleon, “vibrant culinary offerings,” and sparkling drinks, according to RBG’s website.

The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 10:30 p.m., with final entry at 9:30 p.m. Pre-purchased tickets are required for this event, with adult and student ticket types; tickets can be purchased online.

This event is accessible by car and by Burlington Transit and Hamilton Street Railway buses. Nearby bus stops include:

  • York at Rock Garden (route 1, 9): 2-minute walk to event
  • York at Valley Inn (route 1, 9): 2-minute walk to event

If you’re coming from Burlington GO station, you can board the route 1 bus, west to Hamilton, which stops directly at the Rock Garden (York at Valley Inn stop).

Pride in Equity Celebration

Date: Friday, June 19
Time: 6–11 p.m.
Location: Art Gallery of Burlington (1333 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington)
Ages: Unspecified
Cost: $10-$1,000 (excluding taxes and fees)
Nearby public transit: routes 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 50, 52

Halton Equity and Diversity Roundtable’s website writes that on June 19, the Pride in Equity event will feature seven rainbow-themed rooms in the Art Gallery of Burlington, “each offering a unique experience: from drag transformations and Two-Spirit art, to global queer influences, live music, glam stations, and tributes to local leaders.”

The website says that live performances will take place by “internationally recognized 2SLGBTQ+ artists”; this includes a set in the open-air Rainbow Courtyard, according to event partner Drag Academy’s website.

Tickets start at $10 per person for general admission, and end at $1,000 for VIP experiences, dinner, a drag show, and more. Tickets are available for purchase on the following websites: Halton Equity and Diversity Roundtable, Drag Academy, and Eventbrite. 

For specific information regarding experiences offered at the event, visit Drag Academy’s website, or Eventbrite. 

This event is accessible by car and by Burlington Transit and Hamilton Street Railway buses. Nearby bus stops include:

  • Lakeshore at Nelson (route 4, 10): 1-minute walk to event
  • Lakeshore opposite Nelson (route 11 Hamilton): 2-minute walk to event
  • 1340 Lakeshore (route 4, 10, 50): 3-minute walk to event
  • Elizabeth at Lakeshore (route 3, 11): 11-minute walk to event
  • John Street Terminal (route 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 50, 52): 11-minute walk to event

In Conversation with J.M. Frey

Date: Tuesday, June 23
Time: 7–8 p.m.
Location: Central Branch (2331 New St., Burlington)
Ages: Unspecified
Cost: Free to attend, registration required
Nearby public transit: routes 3, 4,10, 50, 52

Toronto-based author J.M. Frey is coming to Burlington Public Library’s Central Branch on June 23 for an author talk.

According to the library’s website, the author, actor, and screenwriter will be talking about queer romance, specifically discussing the “ideas and stories” behind her novels Time and Tide and Nine Tenths.

The event will run from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. You can register to attend here, on Burlington Public Library’s website.

Chloe Teixeira is a writer currently studying journalism at Toronto Metropolitan University. During her studies, she has produced a variety of media, including news articles, long-form features, video reports, short podcast episodes, and more. In 2025, she started writing commentary articles about pop culture and society for her primary Substack blog, Chloe’s Corner, while showcasing her love for the big city on her secondary blog, The Toronto Diaries. Aside from writing, Chloe enjoys reading, fashion, listening to music, and exploring other creative endeavours.

Check out Chloe’s Substack blog for commentary on pop culture and society: https://chloeteixeira.substack.com/