Unabashed PRIDE Festival raring to let loose

CENTRAL Victoria’s largest celebration of LGBTIQA+ visibility, inclusion and the strength of the region’s local queer community – Bendigo PRIDE Festival – returns in just a couple of days’ time.

Events scheduled for this year’s iteration include a trivia night at Bendigo Brewing this coming Tuesday, an inclusive writing workshop the next day at Trades Hall in View Street, and Pride Bingo on Thursday 16 April.

There’ll also be action aplenty on Friday 17 April at the Big Girls Bar (tailoring to women and femme-identifying individuals) and The Meat Up (a late-night shindig for men).

It all comes to a crescendo on Saturday 18 April with the free six-hour Pride in the Park party in Rosalind Park, followed by its afterparty, once again at Trades Hall, starring Greg Gould, Cle Morgan, Misty Boxx, Pizzazz & Kandy Jackzon, and the Disco Daddies.

Bendigo PRIDE committee member Penelope Mullins, who came on board in December, said preparations for the event have been somewhat chaotic.

“We’ve been drawing very heavily on Colin McLean’s (Polly Filla’s) network of drag and local performers and all of their connections, who have stepped up wonderfully,” she said.

“Driven by Colin’s experience, what we’ve tried to do is push for gendered events, including The Meat Up.

“Obviously, I don’t have any experience with anything like that, but I’ve been assured it’s going to be a fabulous night, and I’m sure it will be.

“We’ve also tried to reach out to get as many local providers – whether it’s venues, performers or artists – involved as much as possible.”

Mullins said while putting together any festival has its challenges, being able to help create greater visibility, greater inclusivity and greater awareness about the LGBTIQA+ community makes it all worth it.

“The logistics have really taken over because of the need to get the festival (organised), but in previous jobs I put together international events, so I have those skills,” she said.

“It also helps that, what I’ve found is that the local LGBTIQA+ community is, in all its variations, marvelously diverse, very welcoming and joyful.”

Bendigo PRIDE Festival 2026 starts this Tuesday 14 April with a flag raising ceremony in the Library Gardens, and winds down on Sunday 19 April with a screening of one of the most talked-about queer films in recent times, romantic dark comedy-drama Pillion.

Find out more at bendigopridefestival.com.au.