GOLD COAST PRIDE FESTIVAL 2021
A week of celebration, community, and firsts for the Gold Coast.
From May 23 to 30, the Gold Coast came alive for its first ever Pride Week. The festival was a vibrant celebration of the LGBTIQA+ community, featuring a diverse range of events from social gatherings and parties to workshops and historic firsts for the region. It was a powerful statement of unity and a showcase of the Gold Coast's unique natural beauty.
Festival Highlights & Firsts
The 2021 Pride Festival was packed with memorable moments. The festival kicked off with the Genderfluid Picnic, a low-key social gathering at the Coombabah Wetlands Reserve designed for gender-questioning, gender-neutral, and gender-diverse people, including teens and those with mixed abilities.
Other events throughout the week included Paint & Sip sessions in Burleigh Heads, an LGBTIQA+ community-focused Movie World excursion, and a Dracula's dinner event. The festival culminated in a spectacular final weekend with the Pride Walk on the beach and the first ever Miss Gold Coast Drag Queen Pageant. The festival was a collaboration with the NDIS and Seaweed Society, ensuring it was an all-inclusive, all-ages event.
The White Party on the Yacht
One of the festival's flagship events was the White Party, held aboard the luxury YOT Club Pontoon. Guests sailed into the sunset on the Broadwater, enjoying a night of DJs, drag queens, and glamour. A strict dress code encouraged attendees to dress to impress, with VIP tickets offering exclusive access to the upper deck for the best views of the shows.
All tickets were sold online, with a full refund policy in place in case of cancellation due to COVID-19 or other unforeseen circumstances.
View White Party Details
Pride Beach Walk & Drag Queen Pageant
The final weekend featured a memorable Pride Walk on the beach and the first ever Drag Queen Pageant for the Gold Coast. The pageant saw a bevy of glamorous contestants battle it out for the crown of Miss Gold Coast, hosted by renowned local drag darling, Miss Carmen Taykett. The event was a light-hearted and spectacular show that celebrated the talents of the vibrant and diverse community.
Families and teens were also catered for with dedicated spaces and activities, while market stalls and food trucks provided information and sustenance throughout the day. The festival aimed to be an opportunity to do something good for the community after a difficult year.
Pride Festival Memories
"It's an amazing honour to be able to present the Gold Coast's first ever Pride Week. We see the Festival as an opportunity to do something good for our community after a difficult year."
— Vince Siciliani, Gold Coast Pride Director
"We're really proud to be bringing this event to the people of the Gold Coast, so they can witness and enjoy the talents of the vibrant and diverse community we have here."
— Danni Zuvela, Gold Coast Pride Director