Celebrating 35 years of Pride – Darwin Pride Festival 2020

APN-Darwin-Pride-Pool-PartyDarwin will be the place to be this weekend (18 – 20 September) – celebrating all things Pride with the first rainbow festival taking place in Australia since the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled events all over the world.

In 1985, a group of passionate Darwinites came together to create the very first Darwin Pride Festival – promoting diversity, equality and celebrating LGBTIQ communities. It was born out of a time of struggle and discrimination toward LGBTIQ people: we weren’t always safe; our stories weren’t widely shared; and our lives and loves were often hushed.

Those brave individuals shined the spotlight on issues that needed to change and celebrated what already made us shine. Thirty-five years on, Darwin Pride Festival continues what they began!

Coming together from all corners of the Top End’s community, the 2020 Darwin Pride Festival will celebrate our love, our diverstity, our community and the fact that we can come together to celebrate at all.

On Friday 18 September, join Darwin Pride and the Rainbow community for the Official Launch of this years Festival with cocktails & canapes at Smith Street Social. The launch will include a “Welcome to Country” and performances by some of Darwin’s finest LGBTQIA+ performers and friends.

Then continue the party at Darwin Pride Cabaret. Get your sequins and rainbow feathers ready for a fabulous night of extraordinary entertainment! Featuring fabulous Rainbow artists from around the cosmos including Shalom Kaa, Drag Territory, Alice Cotton, Millie Devine, Crystal Love, Robert James, Darwin Devine Dancers, Shaniqua, Donnie Piccolo, Leah Potter and Dj Bennygold.

On Saturday 19 September, celebrate Community Rainbow Day as Darwin Pride takes over the Darwin City Waterfront Precinct for a fabulous day of rainbows, inclusivity and diversity. Enjoy non stop entertainment with live shows, music by local musicians, performances and DJs.

Fun for the whole Family! Kids face painting, food stalls, craft stalls, Kids arts & crafts, community stalls and so much more! Don’t miss your chance to enter the fun and games of Lip Sync Superstar, the pie-eating contest, and the infamous CAMP DOGS!

While Dine with Pride in the gardens of newly renovated Admiralty House and The Love Boat 2020 Cruise may have sold out – head to The Cav Darwin on Sunday 20 September and celebrate the final event of Darwin Pride Festival 2020 poolside!

Flowing cocktails, drag shows by Anna Gain and Holly Would Blvd and live entertainment; grab yourself a spot on the deck under the palm trees and enjoy an afternoon among our rainbow community and friends.

Throb NightClub will open early during Darwin Pride with magnificent shows, dance anthems, cool hip-hop and RnB tunes – and the best vibe in town!


The 2020 Darwin Pride Festival runs 18 – 20 September. For more information, visit: www.darwinpride.com.au for details.

Image: Pool Party – courtesy of Darwin Pride Festival