Magical Pride festival brings free queer-led celebration to downtown London this week

Downtown London and Old East Village will be alive with music, film, drag, and community celebration this week as Magical Pride kicks off its inaugural festival on Wednesday.

The four-day event, organized by grassroots queer collective Magical Project 519, runs through Saturday, offering free programming aimed at creating inclusive, accessible spaces for London's 2SLGBTQ+ community.

"Everything we're doing is completely free and intentionally varied," said Roisin Miland, one of the organizers and a member of the local music collective Stompbox London. "Whether you're into a loud punk show or a quiet film screening, we want you to feel like you belong."

The festival opens Wednesday night with a screening of Paris is Burning at Imagine Cinemas, followed by a queer jam session at the Poacher's Arms. Thursday features a live music showcase in Market Lane with performances by Shabad, Zena, and Saveria alongside a queer Indigenous night market in Market Lane.

LISTEN | Donavon Trice and Roisin Miland talk about Magical Pride on London Morning:

Friday's main event, dubbed Freaks and Fairies, will take over Rum Runners with DJs, drag performers, and dancers. The festival closes on Saturday with a queer punk show at Honey Dip, a new venue located above Dough EV on Dundas Street in Old East Village.

"It's really about creating a more diverse range of spaces," said Donavon Trice, another organizer and co-founder of London Bloom. "There are very few venues in London that consistently meet the needs of all the different groups within our community. We're trying to change that."

Magical Project 519 is made up of several local collectives who have been hosting events since last October, including clothing swaps, open mics, and workshops, with the goal of maintaining consistent, low-barrier programming.

Trice said the organizing team is intentionally diverse, and community feedback is built into the model.

"We're always gathering input through surveys at events, through conversations, so we can reflect what people are actually looking for."

That feedback has already led to bigger turnouts and broader representation, Miland said.

"Sometimes you think your queer community is just your circle of friends. But then you host something like this, and suddenly, a whole new wave of people shows up. It's incredible."

While both organizers said they've been supported by local partners, including venues such as Poacher's Arms, Rum Runners, and the London Music Office, they acknowledge there are still barriers to overcome, especially around physical accessibility and representation.

"London can be very welcoming, but it really depends on who you are and what your needs are," said Trice. "There are still so many spaces that are not physically accessible. And culturally, there's still a long way to go."

Still, they hope Magical Pride will inspire more initiatives to come.

"We don't want this to be the end," said Trice. "We want people to leave feeling empowered to start something themselves. The goal is for the community to thrive, not just for one weekend, but long-term."

For more information and a full schedule of events for Magical Pride, visit magical519.ca.