Name: Pride on the Mic 🎤
Start: 2026-06-11T18:30:00-07:00
End: 2026-06-11T21:30:00-07:00
Location: MGM Restaurant

$Pride on the Mic \ud83c\udfa4$

🏳️‍🌈 Thursday, June 11 – Pride on the Mic
Time & Location: 6:30 PM at MGM Restaurant, 240 Nicol Street
Tickets: By donation - Tickets available in advance online.
Overview: (All Ages) Join us for Pride on the Mic, an evening dedicated to the stories, songs, and laughter of our 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Hosted in the welcoming atmosphere of MGM Restaurant, this open mic is designed as a focused space for queer expression—where the mic is open, and the vibes are high. Take a seat in a comfortable booth or at a table, enjoy a meal or a drink from MGM’s menu, and settle in for a night of authentic connection.
Want to share your talent? Whether a seasoned storyteller or a first-time performer, we invite 2SLGBTQIA+ writers, poets, musicians, and comedians to share their craft. Performers must still have an entry ticket to the event and to ensure everyone gets their moment in the spotlight, performers must register in advance (registration can be found on www.nanaimopride.ca and via the ticket link).
What this event is:
This is an all-ages, open-mic style event held at the MGM Restaurant (240 Nicol Street). Attendees can expect a variety of local talent, including singing, poetry, musical instruments, and stand-up comedy. It is a community-focused gathering with an expected capacity of up to 150 people. The event is free or by donation. While we encourage you to secure your "by donation" ticket in advance via our website, tickets will also be available at the door (cash or card accepted).

Accessibility:
Mobility: The venue is mostly wheelchair accessible. The entrance consists of double front doors. While there are no automatic push-button openers, both doors can be opened to allow for wide-clearance ingress and egress. A volunteer will be stationed at the door throughout the event to facilitate entry and assist with the doors as needed. There are no steps or ramps in the venue.
Seating: A mixture of fixed booth seating and standard tables with removable chairs is available throughout the restaurant.
Restrooms: There are 3 restrooms on-site. Two are multi-stall washrooms that will be designated as all-gender for this event. The third is a larger, accessible-sized washroom. Please note that none of the restroom doors are equipped with automatic push-button openers.
Parking and Transit: There is a large parking lot on-site with accessible parking spots located directly near the front entrance. For those using transit, Bus Routes 7 (Cinnabar) and 8 (Cedar) stop directly on Nicol Street near the restaurant. Route 1 (Nanaimo Rapid Line) also provides frequent service to the nearby Downtown Exchange.
Other Services: Food and drink are available for purchase through the restaurant. There is no coat room or coat check service. There is no ASL interpretation, captioning, or audio description provided for this event.
Safe Space Commitment: This event upholds Nanaimo Pride's Safe Space Directive, ensuring a respectful and inclusive environment for all attendees. Safe Space Crew will be onsite to provide support if needed.
Sensory Notes: Amplified sound (music and speech) and stage lighting will be in use. There will be no strobe lights, flashing lights, smoke, or haze machines. There is no dedicated quiet room or sensory space; however, attendees are welcome to sit at the "back of house" where it is naturally quieter, or closer to the speakers if they prefer it louder. Guests are free to leave and re-enter as they wish.
General Accessibility & Inclusion Notes:
Questions? Requests? Reach us at [email protected]
Health & Safety: Safe Space Crew volunteers will be present on-site.
COVID-19 Considerations: Hand sanitizing stations are available. Mask wearing is encouraged, and we fully support all attendees who choose to wear one. If you would like us to set aside specific space or tables to help you feel more comfortable, please reach out to us in advance at [email protected].