On Sunday 29 January 2017, Victoria’s iconic annual Midsumma Pride March will celebrate its 22nd Anniversary in St Kilda, solidifying and celebrating Victoria’s diverse L.G.B.T.Q.I.A+ communities – bringing the streets of St Kilda alive with Pride!
Midsumma Pride March – a feature event of the annual Melbourne Midsumma Festival – stretches a kilometre along the length of the bayside Fitzroy Street, with around 40,000 people coming together to watch the annual parade – a free event – which features more than 4,000 marchers.
For the first time ever the Midsumma Pride March will be led by a smoking ceremony conducted by local Indigenous Elders along with a contingent of queer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, directly after traditional parade leaders — Dykes on Bikes –lead the 4,000 strong marchers (a world-over Pride march tradition).
And in another first- this year – Midsumma is also introducing the Midsumma Pride March Awards. Encouraging everyone to dress up for a bright and colourful Pride March, with the inaugural Awards featuring: Most Fabulous (for the most fantastically-frocked group), Significant Message (for the group with a timely and well-conveyed message), and Most Innovative (for the cleverest float in the show).
Again, for the first time this year, the Fitzroy Street Trader’s Association have setup an outdoor broadcast van with roving presenters and multiple speakers sprawling the street in an effort to increase ambiance and generate excitement among guests.
Winners will be selected by a panel of community representatives and announced at the Post Pride celebrations.
This year’s Pride March will also see a coalition of hundreds of young people near the front of the march – in a powerful statement about fostering safe spaces for young people growing up in the LGBTI community.
“Inclusion and connectivity is at the heart of the LGBTI community. Having so many young people under the age of twenty-five march at Pride is inspiring. We’re stoked to send the message to thousands of other LGBTI youth that no matter how hard things can seem, they are not alone”, said Micah Scott, CEO of Minus18 (a group that fosters care for the LGBTI youth).
After the march, St Kilda comes alive with festivities – inviting everyone to follow the final marchers into Catani Gardens for Post Pride celebrations held from 2pm – 7pm.
Post Pride will be hosted by Dale Woolbridge-Brown, renowned Circus Oz performer and proud queer Kamilaroi man, and headlined by Melbourne favourite, DJ Grant Cook.
Speaking exclusively to the Toorak Times, St Kilda publicist, Leanne Tyrrell commented that many of Fitzroy Street’s venues are pulling out all stops to decorate not only the street but their individual venues in theme and are looking forward to hosting a pallet of night-long entertainment to cater for the crowds as they leave Catani Gardens.
As Victoria’s leading Festival for and by LGBTQIA+ peoples, Midsumma is proud to celebrate and deliver this significant event in St Kilda.
Venue: PRIDE MARCH: Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
POST-PRIDE PARTY: Catani Gardens
Date: 29 January 2017
Time: Pride March starts from 2pm – 4pm,
Catani Gardens Post Pride event opens at 2pm with most activities commencing at 4pm.
Post Pride concludes at 7pm after which, Fitzroy Street is inviting all to attend their selection of late night venues
Tickets: FREE ENTRY
Information: www.midsumma.org.au
