Albany Pride receives $15,000 Lotterywest funding for 2024 festival

Albany Pride Festival has received a $15,000 cheque from Lotterywest for its We Are Family themed 2024 Pride Festival which kicks off on February 22. The annual festival, which has been running since 2016, will begin on February 22 at 6pm with a Welcome to Country from Menang Elder Vernice Gillies at Albany’s Heritage Park. Last year, Pride celebrations saw a burst of colour on York Street with vibrant Freedom Fairies at the Town Square and the Town Hall bathed in rainbow lights at night. This year’s packed festival line-up will be just as bold and loud with Drag Bingo, Drag and Drink, a spectacular Dolly Parton tribute drag show from Barbie Q, and a drag brunch at the Albany Entertainment Centre. Not to be missed is Fair Day on March 2 where the community will be able to take advantage of more than 25 market stalls, food vans, roving entertainment and the ever-popular dog show. The categories for the Dog Show include best outfit, best big dog, best little dog, best trick, best ears and best senior dog. Albany landmarks, including the Silos, the Brig Amity, the Albany Entertainment Centre and the Town Hall will be lit up in colourful rainbows once the festival starts on February 22. Last year the Pride community rose above the theft of banners around Albany that cost the group about $1400. Albany Pride media co-ordinator Tiger Bird said the thefts were “really annoying”. “Albany Pride is a not-for-profit, community-run organisation and its members have every right to promote their events,” they said. Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens stepped in to assist with funding for a new banner which was unveiled and displayed on the Premier Hotel’s balcony in York Street. The Festival will run from February 22 to March 4. To see the full line-up of events go the the Albany Pride 2024 Festival website. Happy snappers will be able to spot nightly rainbows at the following locations: The CBH Silos, February 22 to March 4 The Brig Amity, February 23 Albany Entertainment Centre, February 29 Albany Town Hall, March 1