Canberra locals looking for a coastal Pride Month escape are being invited to head south this June as Queerobodalla gears up for its month-long celebration of LGBTQIA+ community across the Eurobodalla.
The festival preparations began over the weekend with ‘Pride Preppers’ at the Riverside Park in Moruya, where community members gathered to paint banners, decorate bicycles, screenprint festival T-shirts and help prepare for Queerobodalla’s upcoming Pride in the Park celebrations.
The event combined live music, creative workshops and community connection, while also introducing newcomers to the grassroots festival and its volunteer-run ethos.
Organisers said the Pride Preppers event highlighted the importance of connecting community members and creating visibility and making the Eurobodalla a safe space for LGBTQIA+ people by providing welcoming queer spaces.
“One mother told us it was the first time her son, who had recently turned 20, felt comfortable being open about his identity at a public community event,” organisers said. “They stayed for hours and are now planning to attend more festival events.”
The welcoming atmosphere also encouraged community involvement, with volunteers signing up to get involved with the running of Queerobodalla events throughout June.
Queerobodalla’s Pride Month program includes sports friendlies, nature walks, film and literary events and the major Pride in the Park event in Moruya on the Sunday 7 June, on the long weekend.
Festival organisers hope visitors from Canberra and beyond will combine the celebrations with a winter coastal getaway while supporting a grassroots regional Pride initiative to help make the South Coast a celebratory and safe place for queer community. .
The full festival program can be found at Queerobodalla.com
