Castlemaine Pride returns in 2023 and not even its founders could have imagined its phenomenal expansion. From a single afternoons picnic in 2018, the community-led festival has grown into a week-long celebration of the culture, history, creativity, and determination of the LGBTQIA+ community in Mount Alexander Shire.
The first Castlemaine Pride picnic was held as an act of healing after the dark days of the marriage equality debate. Since then, the LGBTQIA+ community has had some significant wins, but at a high cost; a cost the community — and trans and gender diverse people in particular — are still paying. Through it all, Castlemaine Pride has continued to flourish.
“There is a staggering amount of backlash directed towards the queer community at the present moment of time,” says Castlemaine Pride co-founder Sherene Clow (she/her).
“Crazy, hateful stuff like anti-trans rallies. But the way we overcome that as a community is with our joy. And so what we’re aiming for in this year’s Castlemaine Pride is the loudest, proudest, most joyful celebration of the diversity that our queerness brings to the world,” commented Sherene.
To that end, Pride-goers can enjoy a program that includes talks, tennis, cinema, live music, drag, a scavenger hunt, and a dance party.
Trans and Gender Diverse Bendigo and Beyond will also be bringing their famous clothes swap back to Castlemaine Town Hall on Sunday, April 30.
“Safe and affirming spaces are important,” says Event Organiser Zara Jones (she/they).
“But safe and affirming spaces where people can have a great time are essential, and generally, when we come together as a community, that’s exactly what happens.”
The flagship event of the festival is still the Castlemaine Pride Picnic, which will kick off proceedings on Saturday, April 29 at the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens from 11 am until 5 pm. The picnic — as with the majority of events in the festival — is free to attend, with food trucks and entertainment laid on. This year the lineup includes performances from Cath Jamison, Australia’s leading female magician and mentalist, and Polly Filla, the Goldfields’ own drag icon, as well as the ever-popular Petstock Dog Show.
Always a family-friendly event, this year there will be some extra special entertainment for the kiddos courtesy of The Connected Circus.
Castlemaine Pride has been made possible largely through the hard work of volunteers, who have put in hundreds of hours to make it a reality. When asked why, volunteer Rani
Kerrin (she/her) comments, “It’s a labour of love, and the reward is a LGBTQIA+ community that’s thriving and vibrant.”
For more information or to download the full program of events visit: www.castlemainepride.org.au.