Newcastle Pride unveil a packed Festival program for October

Fair Day might be taking a rain check, but Newcastle Pride Festival brings more than two weeks of Pride events, with drag, queer films, a rainbow disco and (of course) a Pride Parade.

This year, Newcastle Pride’s beloved Fair Day will be paused until next year due to a lack of funding.

But have no fear, the team at Newcastle Pride still have a festival filled with events to make your October shine.

“We wanted to make sure the community still had a big event to come together, celebrate and show their Pride,” Newcastle Pride President Lee McDougall said.

“We want it to be big, bold, colourful and a little bit camp so grab your flags, your friends and come celebrate with us!”

From a queer film night and open drag night to barefoot bowls, a queer formal, drag music bingo and the Pride Parade itself, we’ve put together a list of everything happening across Newcastle.

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What’s on?

Pride events will be taking place from October 9 leading up to the Newcastle Pride Parade on the 24th.

Check out our full list of events below:

Fri 9th October

Short ‘n’ Curlies: Queerscreen short films, Event Cinemas Kotara. 6:30 pm arrival, 7:15–9:30 pm, $22 incl. drink + popcorn.

Sat 10th October

Open Drag Night – Cast Call: Bernie’s Bar. Free entry until 9 pm, $10 after 9 pm.

Sun 11th October

Espresso Yourself: The Pavilion Carrington, 10:30 am, free event.

ACON’s Pride Barefoot Bowls 40+: Carrington Bowling Club, 1–3 pm, free event.

Tues 13th October

DigiQueer Futures in Regional Australia: Technology, Identity, and Justice: Watt Space Gallery, 5.30 pm, free event.

Thurs 15th October

For parents, carers, relatives: Hunter Gender Alliance, Gender Identity and Your Child, 6:16 pm, free event.

Fri 16th October

Queer W/rites: Readings for Newcastle Pride: Watt Space Gallery, 6 pm, free event.

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Sat 17th October

Newy Queer Pickleball: Pickleballerz, 38 Munibung Rd, Cardiff, 2–4 pm, free event.

Kids’ Storytime + Rainbow Disco: Bernie’s Bar, 1–3 pm, under-12s aren’t supervised, free event.

Queer Formal: Glow & Glam: Bernie’s Bar, 3–6 pm, ages 13–18, free event.

Sun 18th October

Drag Music Bingo: Carrington Bowling Club, doors 11:30 am, bingo 12–3 pm, family-friendly, $20.

Weds 21st October

Newcastle Pride Choir (Practice): The Dungeon, Adamstown Uniting Church, 6–7:30 pm, free event.

Fri 23rd October

Traffic Light Party: Bernie’s Bar. Love, friendship, or a little fun.

Queer Poetry, Queer Love, Queer Pride — Sappho Queers: Poetry Readings for Queers: Watt Space Gallery, 6.30–9 pm.

Sat 24th October

Newcastle Pride Parade: Pride in every step, Honeysuckle Carpark, Parade starts: 9:30 am sharp.

Bear Invasion + Laneway Party: Bernie’s Bar, free entry until 9 pm, $10 after 9 pm.

Sun 25th October

Pride Faith Service: Adamstown Uniting Church, 6 pm, free event.

Out & Running Newcastle Baths: 15-min out-and-back + coffee, 9 am, everyone welcome, free event.

Regional Pride events pushing through lack of funding

In the last year, multiple regional Pride events across regional Australia have been paused or cancelled due to a lack of secure funding.

NSW Greens LGBTQIA+ spokesperson, Dr Amanda Cohn, renewed calls for the NSW Government to create a dedicated Pride events fund. She emphasised the importance of these events for young people and those living in regional and rural communities.

Dr Cohn has also started an online petition calling on the NSW Government to establish a dedicated funding stream for Pride events.

With LGBTIQA+ hate on the rise and major sponsors like Coles pulling out of Pride events, it’s even more important that we show up where we can.

Newcastle Pride invites everyone to come out, get involved and show their Pride at the parade on Saturday the 24th!

Find out more about the program here.