There didn’t have to be any rain on Sunday afternoon for rainbows to be seen all over downtown Calgary.

Thousands attended the Calgary Pride Parade and Festival, including Premier Alison Redford who became the first sitting head of the province to attend and address the crowd.

Thousands marched and danced in costume to blaring music down Stephen Avenue to Shaw Millennium Park where they were met by Premier Redford, who arrived from Edmonton just for the event.

“It’s a really fun opportunity to think about what Alberta looked like 100 years ago, compared to what Alberta looks like today and I like Alberta today,” Redford told the crowd.

Among the attendees was Electronica Dynasty, a nine-time Ms. International Pride.  

She was pleased to see no protesters this year.

“Calgary in 2001, it was the first thing to stand out for me,” she said. “Being from B.C. we don’t see that as much, but I grew up with it.”

“I’m so glad to see that Calgary has grown into such a large and accepting community now.”

Organizers are confident they’ve hit their goal mark of 30,000 people.