Visitors can expect a colourful month of performances, markets, creative workshops and community gatherings as Chilliwack's Queer Arts Festival returns for its second year. Running from 3 to 31 October, the programme brings LGBTQ+ artists and audiences together across the city, with plenty to see, make and celebrate.

Essential Takeaways

  • A month-long programme: Events run from 3 to 31 October at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre and other local venues.
  • Something for every mood: The line-up includes drag, markets, discussion panels, clothing swaps, workshops and film.
  • Several events are free: The Queer Night Market, Spill the Tea Party and Queer Clothing Swap don't charge admission.
  • Tickets vary: Paid events include Drag in the Wack, Art of Halloween and a Halloween screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
  • Creative and social: Visitors can browse handmade goods, meet local people and take part rather than simply watch.

Chilliwack's queer arts festival is back with more to explore

The Queer Arts Festival is returning to Chilliwack Cultural Centre and venues around the city this autumn, offering a lively mix of art, performance and community connection. The second-year event has the feel of a cultural open house, only with more glitter, costumes and reasons to stay out late.

The programme is designed to move between celebration and conversation. One night might involve a bold stage performance, while another offers a quiet creative activity or a chance to exchange clothes. That variety is part of the appeal, particularly for visitors who want to support LGBTQ+ culture without committing to a single type of event.

Start with hands-on art and creative workshops

The festival opens with Clay & Coffee on 3 October at Harvest Café, where queer participants of all experience levels can paint, carve and decorate clay tiles. The evening is organised with the Health Initiative for Men and offers a relaxed way to meet people while making something tactile.

At Myth Valley Studio, the programme continues with Shining with Colours, an exhibition running from 21 October to 1 November. The venue will also host Arts Wellness: Attract and Release on 23 October, using reflective writing to help guests consider what they'd like to welcome into their lives and what they might be ready to leave behind.

Celebrate Love, a paint night on 27 October, brings a more guided and social approach to creativity. Tickets cost $65, while the Arts Wellness session costs $10, making the latter a gentler entry point for anyone curious about the festival but unsure where to begin.

Drag, markets and late-night culture take centre stage

Drag in the Wack returns on 23 October with host Cale Tian, also known as Wan-Ting Moi, joined by fellow drag performers. There are two shows, at 6.30pm and 9pm, with tickets priced at $25. Expect dramatic costumes, sharp stage presence and the kind of audience energy that makes live drag so much fun.

The Queer Night Market takes place at the Cultural Centre later that evening from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Entry is free, and local makers will sell handcrafted items, so it's a good option for visitors who want a lower-cost evening or a chance to find an unusual gift.

For a more conversational night, Spill the Tea Party brings creators and community voices together for an open panel discussion. The event is free, and its focus on connection gives the festival a useful pause between the louder, more theatrical highlights.

Free community events make the festival easy to join

The Queer Clothing Swap on 28 October is another accessible addition to the programme. Attendees can bring gently used clothes and exchange them with others, turning a practical wardrobe clear-out into a social event. It's the sort of simple idea that can feel surprisingly welcoming, especially for people attending the festival for the first time.

The Cultural Centre also lists other queer-focused programming, including the Hey Gay Variety Show and Queer Trivia After Dark. These events broaden the festival's evening options, with performance and playful competition sitting alongside the more reflective sessions.

If you're planning your visit, check the individual event details before travelling. Free admission doesn't always mean no planning is needed, and some workshops or activities may have limited spaces.

End October with costumes, comedy and cult cinema

Art of Halloween arrives on 30 October with cocktails, pizza, costumes and a comedic cabaret atmosphere from the Valley Babes. Tickets are $36, and the format sounds tailor-made for groups looking for a lively pre-Halloween night out.

The festival closes on 31 October with a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the famously outrageous 1975 cult film. Visitors are encouraged to dress up, which turns the afternoon into more than a standard cinema trip. Expect theatrical outfits, plenty of audience participation and a suitably gleeful Halloween mood.

Tickets for events at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre are available through the venue, while other activities use their own booking pages. With free markets and panels alongside ticketed shows, the festival offers an easy way to build an evening around your budget and energy level.

It's a bright, welcoming month of culture, creativity and community in Chilliwack.

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