Aye aye, captain – MELT Festival’s inaugural River Pride Parade is setting sail on the Brisbane River
Brisbane Powerhouse’s annual queer arts and culture festival MELT will be going out with a bang this year. On November 9, the festival is set to shiver your timbers with the grand debut of its River Pride Parade across the waters of the Brisbane River. Proudly led by the bonafide queen of Brisbane, Courtney Act, the river parade welcomes boats of all shapes and sizes to set sail through the heart of The City, with watching parties setting up along the banks as well. Keep reading to find out more …
In June of 1990, more than 500 members of Brisbane’s queer community marched to Musgrave Park in the city’s first ever Pride Parade. Emboldened by the fight for law reform, this inaugural Pride march would mark a watershed moment in Brisbane history, with the event becoming a yearly staple in Brisbane’s cultural calendar.
Twenty-four years on, MELT Festival will be celebrating Pride by cruising through the heart of The City for Brisbane’s first-ever aquatic edition. River Pride Parade will be taking to the seas from the William Jolly Bridge and sail down the river to Brisbane Powerhouse. The parade is open to all, with boats of all sizes welcome to join Brisbane’s LGBTQIA+ communities and allies along the big Brown Snake. Leading the way will be Australia’s queen of drag, Courtney Act. As an award-winning performer, advocate and cultural icon, Courtney Act represents one of the city’s most celebrated exports, receiving worldwide acclaim throughout the international drag scene.
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Fortunately, if you don’t have your own mardi-raft to charter, you can also submit your interest to cruise on someone else’s via the MELT website. For those looking to make a splash, celebrate at Harry K’s Splash Out party on the OASIS, Brisbane’s decadent three-levelled party boat. In the case you’re not feeling seaworthy, stay on land and catch all of the floating festivities from a number of the outdoor viewing spots and parties along the river. South Bank Parklands will even be hosting its very own Pride Picnic on the idyllic River Quay Green. The family-friendly event will not only be boasting killer views of the parade, but music and entertainment as well to celebrate all afternoon long.
The event is the culmination of three weeks of festivities that will take over Brisbane from October 23 to November 10 in celebration of MELT. The city-wide celebration of Brisbane’s queer community is beckoning LGBTQIA+ communities, artists and allies from across the globe for an electric program of performances, events and art. Make a day out of the parade and explore the array of installations and events taking place across Brisbane, from the artworks of Christian Thompson being displayed around the streets of The City to the delicious delights of Night Feast and more. Find out more about what’s on here.
Participation in River Pride Parade is free, with boat registrations closing Thursday October 24.