First-ever Winter Rainbow Festival a colourful celebration supporting Generation Rainbow Collective

The Generation Rainbow Collective can’t wait to welcome attendees to the inaugural Winter Rainbow Festival! Pictured here, members of Generation Rainbow Collective enjoy a fun and engaging cooking session with Chef Lucy at one of their recent events.

The Stratford Inclusive Markets in partnership with the Generation Rainbow Collective (GRC) is proud to host the first-ever Winter Rainbow Festival, a colourful and inclusive event for all ages.

Taking place on Sunday, Feb. 2 at the Stratford Army, Navy & Airforce Unit 261 Hall, the festival promises a day filled with fun, connection and celebration.

“Bring your high spirits, dress up in rainbows; this is a celebration. We want it to be fun for everyone,” said Royal de Jong, owner of Stratford Inclusive Markets.

Running from 12-4 p.m., the Winter Rainbow Festival will feature a lively mix of buskers, 25 unique vendors and interactive activities including a colouring station for kids, a temporary tattoo station, a hot-chocolate bar, a silent auction and more.

A standout highlight is the line-dancing session from 12:30-1:30 p.m. featuring music selected by GRC members.

“That is going to be epic. The music that they’ve chosen; … some of the youth helped pick out some of the songs and a lot of the songs are like gay anthems. So, it’s not like your classic country music line dancing. It’s going to be really youth oriented and fun. I’m really excited about it. It’s going to be amazing,” de Jong said.

Youth from GRC are also actively participating by manning various stations, earning community service hours while fostering connections and creating an engaging atmosphere.

Hosting and co-managing the event is the Generation Rainbow Collective, a first-of-its-kind program developed in partnership with Sara McIntyre-Roy, Heather McDowell, Dylan and Ollie. Initially launched as a six-week initiative to provide meals and activities for LGBTQIA+ youth, the program quickly became a cornerstone for the community.

“When we started, we didn’t realize how big the need was for a program like this,” said McIntyre-Roy. “It’s been so popular that people wanted it to continue beyond the six weeks. We’ve now passed our one-year anniversary, operating out of the Stratford Pride Community Centre, and we continue to welcome new members every week.”

GRC fills a vital gap in services for queer youth in Huron-Perth, providing a safe and inclusive space that was previously unavailable. Through a needs assessment and conversations with local youth and Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs, the organizers discovered a lack of accessible spaces where LGBTQIA+ youth could feel comfortable.

The program offers a wide range of activities chosen by the youth themselves, including rock climbing, beach outings, theatre trips, art workshops and wellbeing sessions. Youth ambassadors, such as Ollie and Toby, help lead the program by voting on activities and managing funding priorities, while adults provide coordination and support.

“It’s a program run by youth, for youth, and we’re here to help them make their vision a reality,” said McIntyre-Roy.

While the community has been generous, funding remains a significant challenge. GRC initially started with a $1,000 grant from the United Way Perth-Huron, which lasted six months thanks to community support and discounts from local businesses.

“The community has been amazing, but funding continues to be a challenge,” McIntyre-Roy explained. “We can’t afford to provide full meals every week anymore, though we always have snacks on hand. Additional funding would help us offer more frequent meals and expand our outings and activities.”

The Winter Rainbow Festival offers opportunities for everyone to get involved. Organizers are seeking additional vendors, buskers and donations for the silent auction. Financial contributions will also be accepted at the door.

“We are always accepting new partnerships and donations. If people want to get in touch, they can email us or follow us on social media,” de Jong said. “Coming to the market is a great opportunity to meet the youth, the coordinators and see what we’re all about in a fun, noncommittal setting.”

De Jong concluded with an invitation to the community.

“I hope the community will come out and support this event. It’s the people who make it fun.”

Join the Winter Rainbow Festival and celebrate the joy, inclusivity and vibrant spirit of the Generation Rainbow Collective!