Albany Pride Festival to draw visitors to City’s heart this February

Albany’s heart will turn all the colours of the rainbow next month when Albany Pride delivers one of the biggest regional Pride event line-ups in Australia. Albany Pride Festival is set to return bigger than ever this year, bringing three award-winning Fringe Festival shows to the city for the first time, and 11 fun community events from February 12-27. Since forming as a social support service for regional LGBTQIA+ people in 2011, the group has grown to offer a youth group with headspace Albany, a Rainbow Families group and a Pride Social Support group for people with lived experience of mental health or who are living with a disability. Albany Pride co-ordinator Annie Arnold said since their first festival was held four years ago, it had become better every year. “Pride 2021 has given us the opportunity to put together a wide variety of events that were different to anything we’d done before, like incorporating Fringe shows and sports events, as well as activities for families and youth,” she said. “We think it’s also a great attraction for people outside of Albany to come and visit our beautiful city and see what we have to offer.” With events ranging from a drag story hour to a Pride basketball game, the festival has been designed to offer something for everyone. Anzac Peace Park will come to life on February 14 for the Pride 2021 Fair Day, tipped to be their biggest yet with live performances, food stalls, a dog show, face painting and bouncy castle. Drag bingo will bring the laughs at Albany Entertainment Centre on February 19 before a run at Middleton Beach the next morning. Festivities will kick off with opening night drinks on February 12 and close with a drag show on February 27 at Albany Entertainment Centre. For details and tickets visit www.pride2021.albanypride.com.au. WHAT’S ON AT ALBANY PRIDE FESTIVAL: Friday, February 12 Saturday, February 13 Sunday, February 14 Friday, February 19 Saturday, February 20 Sunday, February 21 Friday, February 28, Saturday, February 27