The original 2021 festival included 13 fabulous events. In order to put on a festival that can be done in a COVID-safe manner, 7 events will be held throughout Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter.
The signature Fair Day will make a return, relocated to Camp Shortland as DJ Dolly Llama and DJ Argonaut take to the decks. Then, people will ‘Strut’ their way to the Lass O’Gowrie Hotel for the Fair Day After Party. The rescheduled festival will also still include the ‘’80s Let’s Get Physical Rainbow Lycra Family Pride Bike Ride’ around Lake Macquarie, followed by ‘Pride By Night’ entertainment and stalls at Speers Point Park. Hunter residents won’t miss out – ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ outdoor interactive movie night takes place at Maitland Gaol.
Finishing off the festival’s programme is an ‘Eat To The Beat’ brunch at Ka-Fey Cafe, a ‘Trans Glamore’ event at Corset Bar and the launch of the Newcastle Pride Youth Group, and the inclusion of a ‘MasQUEERade’ formal.
Festival performers include guests Coco Jumbo, Jojo Zaho, Sexy Galexy, Freddie Merkin, MC James Breko, Miss Dannii Issues, Leather Lungs, Kandii Rhinestone, DJ Argonaut, DJ Dolly Llama, DJ Victoria Anthony, DJ Nic Kelly, and local performers Timberlina, Foxxe Faux, Orlando Gloom, Abork, Connor Wink, DJ Marnie, DJ Lisa May McCall, BEE, Quinn Carter, Circus Avalon, Bravissimo, Molly Poppinz, Fatima Bush, Neil E Falik, Aella Stone, Nova Hudson, Glenda Jackson, Verity and more.
“We were devastated after the cancellation of the 2020 festival,” Newcastle Pride Founder and President Lee-Anne McDougall says. “Our Committee gives hours of their personal time and work hard to create such an inclusive and celebratory space for the LGBTQIA+ people of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and The Hunter, and to not be able to do that in the form of a Festival in 2020 was heartbreaking.”
“To have to postpone the festival again in 2021 was yet another blow to the local LGBTQIA+ community, but we feel the rescheduled events are possible for us to accomplish in a COVID safe manner, but more importantly we have chosen events in each Local Government Area to be inclusive of all our LGBTQIA+ family, so we are all extremely excited to be able to do this for the community.”
The rescheduled Newcastle Pride events will take place from 23 October-27 November.
