Huge Changes to PRIDEFEST Announced
Pride WA has announced radical changes to PRIDEFEST including moving the annual closing parade to being a day time event at the start of the festival, replacing the traditional FAIRDAY with a licensed music festival and relocating FAIRDAY to be a February event in Hyde Park.
With a main focus on reducing the amount of events whilst increasing their quality the changes also hope to create more inclusivity for the widely diverse local queer community.
The original Pride Parade that took place at night will now be held during the day, and will kick-start the month of festivities rather than concluding it. Starting at 12 noon, the daylong celebration called PRIDE will conclude at Russell Square, where a music festival event will run until 9pm.
The music festival will replace FAIRDAY, and will run as a fully licensed, 18+ event aimed at raising funds for Pride WA. Both events occurring at the beginning of PRIDEFEST is hoped to draw both media and patron attention, raising awareness and funds of the month long festivities.
The other component of FAIRDAY which attract families with stalls and picnicking will take place in February during the lead up to Sydney Mardi Gras. The separate event will remain as FAIRDAY and will serve as a non-alcohol event in Hyde Park, where FAIRDAY was previously held.
The new FAIRDAY will hope to attract more visitors during the warm summer months; it will be pitched as part of the popular Fringe Festival.
Float quality during the daytime PRIDE parade will receive particular focus with the introduction of a professional float building program, it is hoped this will increase the quality of the Parade.
The final Saturday of PRIDEFEST events will host the PRIDEFEST Closing Party; Pride WA is calling for bars and other venues in Northbridge to come forward if they are interested in holding the event.
Announcing the changes Pride Female Co-President Michelle Rigg said the overall of the organisations events was long overdue,
“Our community has changed incredibly from PRIDE’s early days fighting for gay and lesbian rights in WA, and it is time Pride adapted to reflect the changed needs and aspirations of our community.
“The changes we are announcing are designed to improve the quality of PRIDE events and make them more accessible and appealing to the entire Pride Community, no matter where they live.”
Here are the dates currently listed for each event this year:
PRIDE: Saturday 2nd November 2013
PRIDEFEST CLOSING PARTY: Saturday 23rd November 2013
FAIRDAY: Sunday 16 February 2014
PRIDEFEST: Sunday 2nd November to Saturday 23rd November 2013
Read the full statement here and a detailed explanation note.
Nadine Walker
