The 2010 Pride Festival was just fantastic with something for everyone. From the time the gates opened at Fairday to the last float down the Parade route and the following parties, all the events were well attended with many groups reporting their busiest events ever.
Thank you to everyone who supported everything, to those who helped out at Fairday and marshalling the parade – and doing the thousand and one other tasks that need to be accomplished to make the Pride Festival happen.
Most of all thank you to the Pride Committee who organised the whole thing. It takes many months of hard work to put on a Festival like this, and to get the support we received this year makes it all worthwhile.
Well, we started to make some changes and your support indicates that we are moving in the right direction. Attendance at Fairday was much higher than the last couple of years – even though it was on a Saturday. Many people commented that they thought the atmosphere and the layout of the event was better than in the past.
The Parade this year was one of the largest we have had for some time with 35 floats and about 1,000 people involved. Your participation on this scale just goes to show that after 21 years Pride is still valued and something wanted by our community.
Next year on the last weekend in October, Perth is hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). With the (real) Queen in attendance as well as most of the heads of the Commonwealth countries the city will pretty much be in lockdown. So we propose to hold Fairday in the middle of October and move the Parade to the following February (2012). This will put the Parade into the summer, which is warmer and more conducive to both participating and spectating and will also coincide with the Perth International Arts Festival and lots of visitors being in town. It will also be about two weeks prior to Sydney Mardi Gras and we hope to attract people to Perth on their way there. All this has to be finalised yet, and the new committee next year will have to make that decision. So if you want to be a part of this exciting time, jump on board. Your help and ideas are more than welcome.
It is important to us to know what you think of the Festival events and how you found them – after all we put them on for you. Please email us at pride@pridewa,asn,au with your comments and experiences of the 2010 Festival. With your feedback we can make sure that future Pride Festivals are tailored to your liking, and ensure your continued support which is the most vital element of all.
Thank you again Perth for your wonderful support of the 2010 Pride Festival. Not only did you rekindle that wonderful community spirit but you really did make it a HAPPY PRIDE.
To reiterate, your ongoing input is important to us so please contact us at pride@pridewa.asn.au with any ideas and suggestions or visit our facebook.
Sharlene Dixon & Charles Denham
Co-Presidents
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