The wheels are in motion for the 2023 Pride Festival.
Planned for Saturday January 28, 2023, the Festival will get underway at Maryborough’s Railway Station from 11am before moving to Maryborough Mill House where market stalls, an entertainment marquee and food stalls will be set up, with festivities planned until 6pm.
Aimed at youth, the Festival is being organised by local Adrian Masterman-Smith, Mill House Chair and Central Goldfields Shire Maryborough Ward Councillor Wayne Sproull, with the help of the local Youth Pride Group.
Mr Masterman-Smith said the event is the first of its kind for the Central Goldfields Shire.
“The Festival will open with a special conga line in which participants will be able to choose a colour which best represents their personality, identity or spirit.
“This event will be a space for anyone who identifies as on the rainbow, but it will also be for their family, friends and supporters.
“This is an opportunity to strengthen those community connections.
“There are no Pride events happening in this region and it’s exciting that Maryborough will be the conduit between festivals happening in regional centres such as Castlemaine and Daylesford.”
Mr Masterman-Smith said the event will be part of Midsumma Festival- Australia’s premier queer arts and cultural organisation bringing together a diverse mix of LGBTQIA+ artists, performers, local communities and audiences. Midsumma Festival runs over 22 days from January to February each year.
Cr Sproull said it was important for the Shire to host inclusive events.
“We are working collaboratively with local young people to build a festival that is inclusive, supportive and educational.
“We’ll have Headspace, the Australian non-profit organisation for youth mental health, set up with a marquee, along with other support providers and groups, there will be plenty happening.”
Cr Sproull encouraged anyone interested, to get involved in planning the Festival.
“We want this Festival to reflect the needs and wants of our community, to do that we need input from the community.
“Everyone we’ve spoken to has been incredibly supportive and are excited to see this come to life.
