Melbourne’s LGBT community hit the streets on Sunday for this year’s final event on the Midsumma calendar, Melbourne’s annual Pride Parade. The Parade wrapped up the festival for 2011 despite new challenges in venue changes.
Midsumma general manager Adam Lowe told OUTinPerth this year’s festival had been his best yet with about 100,000 people attending the annual Carnival.
‘Overall, the festival has been the best yet…’ Lowe said, before adding, ‘whilst I have had the privilege of being the GM,’
‘We have achieved a number of wonderful highlights this year too.
‘We are proud too of the international contingent of artists represented, from our own production of A Book Of Spells – A Love Story, to the contribution of lifetime supporters of the festival, Hares and Hyenas and their international contingent – Daniel-Ryan Spaulding.’
Lowe was also impressed with West Australia’s contribution to the festival from Perth’s own Warren Herbu.
‘Even WA was represented at Hares & Hyenas Bookstore with X Roads Collective’s presentation of Oscar Wilde’s De Profundis,’ he said.
Carnival turnout almost tripled this year. Lowe found this year’s Midsumma Carnival to be a ‘huge success’ despite changing venues to Birraung Marr Park in Melbourne’s CBD.
‘Naturally, going into the event a new venue, and new challenges were nerve wracking to some extent,’ he said.
‘We had a great day, and the sun shone. This made for an amazing kick off to our three-week celebration of Queer Culture.’
While the festival may be over, Lowe added Midsumma 2011 still had one last call.
‘We are joining the City of Melbourne in the annual Moomba Parade for the first time ever!’ Lowe said.
‘The City has invited us to participate, and is assisting us to pull together the parade entry.
‘Other than that, it’s on to the planning of the next festival.’
Check out photos and stories from the festival at Midsumma’s Citizen Blog http://midsumma.tumblr.com/ or www.midsumma.org.au.
Benn Dorrington
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