The Brisbane Pride Festival is the third largest GLBT event in the country, attracting more than 50,000 people over its four-week duration.
Held in June each year, the main event of the Brisbane Pride Festival is the Pride Fair held in Musgrave Park, South Brisbane. Approximately 14,000 people attended the 2009 Pride Fair which included over 70 stalls, two bars, rides, a pet parade and plenty of live entertainment.
The Pride Fair experienced some changes in 2009, with council tightening regulations and liquor licensing laws. However, by enforcing designated drinking areas and serving only low or mid-strength beer the 2009 Pride Fair remained a successful event, attracting the biggest numbers in its history.
‘On behalf of everyone from the Brisbane Pride Festival I would like to say a big thank you to everybody who participated and made this the biggest Pride Fair on record,’ festival president Scott Hampson told Queensland GLBT publication, QNews.
A Rally and March is traditionally held on the same day as Pride Fair and winds its way through the streets of Brisbane ending at Musgrave Park. Despite last minute changes to the designated route of the 2009 Rally and March, over 3,000 people participated.
‘The change of venue for the rally turned out to be a blessing in disguise, with more people showing up than ever before,’ Hampson told QNews.
The official Pride Fair after-party is held at the Wickham Hotel, one of Brisbane’s largest full-time GLBT venues.
The four weeks surrounding the Rally and March and Pride Fair are filled with community events, dance parties, theatre, film and sporting competitions. Interesting events from the 2009 festival included the ‘Big Queer Brisbane Bus Tour’, in which punters could learn about the city’s hidden queer history, wine masterclasses and ‘Gay Skate’, a social rollerskating session with a local Rollerderby group.
Starting in 1990, Brisbane Pride was originally run as a collective but was Incorporated in 2002. Brisbane Pride Inc, a non-profit organisation operated by a voluntary board and working committee, assisted by a trusty band of volunteers.
2010 will see the 20th birthday of the Brisbane Pride Festival and organisers are promising a big one. The full program of events will be posted on the official website in early January.
Brisbane GLBT venues:
The Wickham – 308 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley
Proudly GLBT venue, open 7 days, dance floor, drag shows and DJs, mixed crowd
The Sportsman Hotel – 130 Leichhardt Street, Spring Hill
Gay owned and operated, drag shows, karaoke, lunch Mon-Fri and dinner nightly
Beat Nightclub – 677 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
Open till late 7 days, theme nights, live shows and DJs
Fluffy – 8 McLachlan Street, Fortitude Valley
Themed performances and shows every Sunday Night, DJs, mixed crowd
Scarlet – @ St Pauls, Corner Wharf and Leichhardt Streets, Spring Hill
Monthly, women only, live shows, pool tables, cocktail bar
White Wolf – @ St Pauls, Corner Wharf and Leichhardt Streets, Spring Hill
Monthly, men only, mostly 30+, dance floor, DJs
Accommodation:
The Sportsman Hotel has ten rooms with shared facilities which are serviced daily. Rates are very reasonable and the hotel is located near many gay and lesbian venues. Bookings are essential around Christmas and New Year.
(07) 3831 2892
www.sportsmanhotel.com.au
Central Brunswick Apartment Hotel offers a range of gay-friendly accommodation options from studios to apartments with cooking facilities. It has a sauna, spa and gym on the premises, a rooftop BBQ area and internet access.
(07) 3852 1411
www.centralbrunswickhotel.com.au
The Ridge on Leichhardt has studios, 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom units, all with cooking facilities. It is within walking distance of the Brisbane CBD and GLBT bars and clubs.
(07) 3831 5000
www.ridgeonleichhardt.com.au
Things to do:
The Queensland Cultural Centre, adjacent to South Bank on the Brisbane River is Brisbane’s cultural hub housing the Queensland Museum & Sciencentre, State Library of Queensland, the Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art. Opened in December 2006, the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art is the largest modern art museum in Australia and focuses on the art of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries from both Australian and international artists.
Built in 1923, the heritage-listed Brisbane Arcade is one of the city’s oldest shopping destinations and has been lovingly maintained. Domed glass ceilings and Terrazzo floors make for a stunning backdrop to the 50 specialist retailers of Brisbane Arcade, the majority of which are Australian owned and run. Brisbane Arcade runs from the Queen Street Mall through to Adelaide Street and is well serviced by public transport.
