Your Voice, Your Story | Newcastle's 5th Annual Pride Festival Set to Dazzle
The 5th annual Newcastle Pride Festival is set to take place from Friday, 11 October to Sunday, 27 October, with a theme of Your Voice, Your Story, in what will be a guaranteed rainbow-hued celebration of love, diversity and unity for all.
The most anticipated LGBTQIA+ event of the year invites everyone to share their unique experiences and join in the festivities. Promising an exciting lineup of diverse and fun events, catering to a wide range of interests and ages, from the Newcastle Pride Parade to the electrifying Poof Doof + Dyke Doof afterparty and the family-friendly Fair Day, the festival truly offers something for everyone.
Newcastle Pride was established in 2018 and plays a crucial role in raising awareness and promoting acceptance within the broader community, ensuring that the voices and stories of LGBTQIA+ individuals are heard and celebrated. Established by Founder and President Lee-Anne McDougall along with Co-Founder Ivan Skaines, it was the passing of the marriage equality bill that spurred them into action.
“I noticed that despite our region having one of the highest yes votes for marriage equality, there were very few events and no dedicated LGBTQIA+ venues for the community to gather and socialise,” said Lee-Anne.
“This lack of opportunity left many feeling socially isolated and unsupported, and we realised that there was a need for a space within the community where LGBTQIA+ people could come together.
“The original concept was to put on a small festival with three events. Ivan took care of structuring the organisation, and I took care of the festival Management and Sponsorship. The first Festival took place in August at Foreshore Park and was way bigger than any of us expected, with all events sold out and 5000 people attending the Fair day. We realised that Newcastle Pride was well received and would only grow, so we needed to form a formal committee. Newcastle Pride was born.”
Since 2018 there have been four successful festivals, on a trajectory of growth that saw the 2023 Fair Day at Gregson Park in Hamilton welcome over 13,000 attendees, and even more expected this year. Powered by a small but mighty team of volunteers dedicated to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community through inclusive events and festivals with a vision
to create a world where everyone feels safe, respected and embraced for who they truly are.
Through their values of Integrity, Equality, Empowerment, Respect, and Diversity, they strive to provide positive role models and inclusive spaces for all LGBTQIA+ individuals with a particular eye to providing positive role models for LGBTQIA+ youth.
“We are deeply committed to improving the experiences of our youth so that their lived experience is better than the generations that went before,” said Lee-Anne.
“Harassment still exists in Newcastle. In our hearts, we hope that things have changed, but you still hear stories of violence toward those in our community, unfortunately.”
Supporters of Newcastle Pride include local businesses, councils and other community organisations. Coles has been a principal partner for three out of the four years and is very passionate about their LGBTQIA+ community, particularly in regional areas. Westpac has been a major partner for two years; Hunter IVF and Holiday Inn Express have been partners since the beginning. Other sponsors include Hunter Water, Wests, Umbrella Legal, Darby Street Complete Care Pharmacy, Equip Multimedia and Homegrown Markets.
The 2024 festival will run across 16 days with several events. Each event provides a unique platform for local and national performers to showcase their talents, whether it's through drag shows, art exhibits, or creative workshops. Newcastle Pride Fair Day is the flagship, free, family-friendly event with over 120 market stalls, entertainment on the full stage
and a second stage specifically for up-and-coming young performers to showcase their skills.
The festival launches on Friday, 11 October, with Short ‘n’ Curlies, a queer short film screening at Event Cinemas, Kotara. At 10.30am on Saturday, 12 October, the Newcastle Pride Festival Parade takes place at Nobbys Beach, and it marks the first time that the parade has been held during the festival period. The parade will move from Honeysuckle Drive Car Park,
walking along the foreshore path and end at Nobbys Beach, where Principal Partner Coles will put on a BBQ with all proceeds donated to Newcastle Youth. People are encouraged to bring all the colours of their personality to the Newcastle foreshore. Think rainbows, glitter, and endless fun! Dress in your brightest rainbow, get up and paint the Newcastle foreshore with a sea of pride!
Screamin’ Gay is a regular monthly event held at the Lass O’Gowrie Hotel in Wickham featuring the latest drag shows and the hottest DJs, so the 12 October event is turning up the volume to wild celebration level. Screamin’ Gay + Drag Karaoke will start at 8pm and run until late. It’s an 18+ event and no ordinary karaoke, so whether you’re a seasoned star or love belting out your favourite disco tune or pride anthem, this stage is yours to shine on! Or head to the beer garden for an unforgettable night with Newcastle’s most glamorous and gritty drag performers, hottest guest DJs, and a dance floor pulsating with queer love vibes. When you have the time of your life, you’ll know there’ll be
another Screamin’ Gay event every month to enjoy!
On Sunday, 13 October, get your gang together for Drink & Draw with Wonder Mama at Earp Distilling Co. from noon and with DJ Felix DaKitty from 2.30pm to 5pm. For this workshop, Wonder Mama will guide you in creating your own Drag Star artwork that you can take home. Drink and draw the afternoon away as you connect with friends and dance to the beats of DJ Felix DaKitty at this fantastic, one-of-a-kind workshop.
Everyone gets a rest on Monday and Tuesday, and then Wednesday, 16 October, sees the stunning She Needa running Disco Bingo at the Mayfield Bowling Club. If the written word is more your style, then The Ink Well at Bernie’s Bar on Thursday, 17 October, features creators from across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum sharing their original pieces - positive stories, poems and verse in an evening designed to uplift and incite joy. Labyrinth Beats! At Bernie’s Bar on Friday, 18 October, is a sex-free BDSM and Fetish dance party with a strict dress code.
For those who like visual art, The Owens Collective is showing the Sassy Kunst Art Exhibition from Friday evening on October 18 to Sunday the 20th. Randa Magdi and Lisa Ellen Hughes are LGBTQIA artists who explore the eclectic collaboration of creating colourful contemporary art together. In their third joint exhibition, ‘Sassy Kunst’ is precisely that: sassy, complimentary, unique, vibrant art. The Hunter Rainbow History Group is presenting a free History Walk, Glamour and Grit, at Market Square from 10am on Saturday, 19 October. Since colonial times, Newcastle has been home to sailors, wild girls and wicked women, and all sorts of locals and visitors in search of big city vice and a raging good time. This walking tour takes you from our town’s foreshores to the back bars and beyond and takes one hour, giving you time to head straight to the main event – Fair Day.
Newcastle Pride Fair Day at Gregson Park, Hamilton kicks off at 11am and runs until 6pm. It’s a day filled with family-friendly entertainment, delicious street food, an exciting marketplace coordinated by Homegrown Markets, and engaging community stalls. The day includes the main stage, a new dedicated DJ dance space, Storytime with Wonder Mama, Glamorous Drag shows, non-stop performance art, live music, Doggywood Parade, The Red Torquettes motorcycles, and a Children and Youth Space. Why not join the Tug of Love or Handbag Toss, peruse the food stalls and vans, and shop at mixed retail stalls and LGBTIQA+ Community Stalls? Bring shade, water, a rug or your sequinned banana chair, settle in and get ready for a wave of camp entertainment and rainbow-coloured fun. Fair Day is a day of fabulousness, glamour and inclusivity. It’s a day for everyone.
Poof Doof is the premier queer party brand in Australia, raving every Saturday night in Sydney and Melbourne with quality dance music, championing queer artistry and uplifting the LGBTIQA+ community. Now appearing for the first time in Newcastle for the Official Afterparty at the Newy Hotel on Saturday, 19 October, from 7pm until 4am, they’re also running the Dyke Doof in a Beer Garden takeover guaranteed to have everyone doofing til dawn!
And as all in the LGBTIQA+ community know, there is no afterparty without a recovery party! Afterglow at Bernie’s Bar from 2pm until 8pm on Sunday the 20th promises the ultimate recovery from all that glitter, doofing and diva action with DJs and drag performers, delicious cocktails and a pumping dance floor in what is sure to be a fabulous finale to an unforgettable Pride festival.
Supporting LGBTIQA+ families and youth is a core mission of Newcastle Pride, so it’s no surprise that on Saturday, 26 October, from 1pm to 3pm, Bernie’s Bar will be transformed into a Kids Rainbow Disco where children from 12 years and under will hit the dance floor and dress in a rainbow of colour. Then, from 3.30pm to 6.30pm, the venue presents the free Blackout - Youth Formal for youth aged 12 to 17. In the ultimate celebration of love, acceptance, and unity, Blackout is a queer-inclusive youth formal like no other, where you can dance, laugh, and rock vibrant rainbow colours. Express your authentic self in a safe and welcoming environment, fostering belonging, connection, and self-expression.
Once the young people have had their fun, Bernie’s Bar transforms again into a Spooky Soirée with a distinct Halloween theme for ages 18+ from 7pm until late with drag entertainment, roving performers and even a photographer on site. Finally, on Sunday, 27 October, if you’ve still got the energy, it’s the Newcastle Pride Come and Try Dragon Boat Day held at the Newcastle Hunter Dragon Boat Club in Carrington from 10am to 12pm. It’s a free, family-friendly event
that welcomes everyone, regardless of experience or fitness level.
Newcastle Pride is providing critical support for the LGBTIQA+ community, building awareness, providing safe spaces for people to be their authentic selves without harassment and having a lot of fun in the process. Joel Tiltman, aka She Needa, regularly hosts the Screamin’ Gay event. He credits Newcastle Pride for supporting him in his drag journey and helping him establish himself as a successful artist in demand.
“I didn’t start performing in drag until three years’ ago,” said Joel, who is in his 40s.
“I’ve had a full career as a nurse, but it was during COVID and the lockdowns that I realised how short life can be, that I could literally die. It was time to do something I’ve always wanted to do. I used lockdown to learn my craft by watching YouTube videos, and then as soon as we reopened, I got up on stage and was mentored by some of the more seasoned performers, including Molly Poppins, who is my ‘drag mother’. I never expected She Needa to take off the way she has. It’s amazing, and I’m so proud to participate in the festival.”
Ben Potts, aka drag star Gucci, agrees with Joel about how important Newcastle Pride is to his community.
“It’s really grown since COVID,” said Ben.
“They’ve got a great team, and it’s an amazing community they’ve helped strengthen. They provide a platform for artists like me to perform, especially through the festival and the monthly Screamin’ Gay events, which have exceeded all expectations. It’s wonderful to see the younger generation coming through too, being supported by the older queens.”
The future is bright for Newcastle Pride, with plans for more events and festivals in the region.
“We’ve registered Lake Macquarie Pride, Hunter Pride and Port Stephen’s Pride,” said Lee-Anne McDougall.
“In 2022 and 2023, we held Pride by Night Fair Day in Speers Point Park, which was well received with 8000 attendees, so we’re looking forward to building on what we’ve achieved so far. We’re still surprised at how big it’s all become, but the community obviously needed it. It’s a testament to the inclusivity of Novocastrians that they’ve embraced and supported so well.”
Visit www.newcastlepride.com.au for the full program and ticket information. Let out your inner diva and come party with Newcastle Pride!
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