UNVEILS FESTIVAL CALENDAR

Cape Town Pride Festival has revealed details of this year’s 3 week-long Pride Festival which runs from the February 9th to 5th March. There is a wide range of interesting events including book readings, film screenings, workshops, mountain hikes, gay line dancing, lesbian sundowners, drag shows, a three-night boat cruise, a Pride Promenade Pet walk, and more.

The high point of the festival is always the Pride Parade which will be happening on Saturday 4th March, starting as it usually does in de Waterkant district of Green Point.

This is always a great occasion where members of the diverse LGBTQI+ community march to celebrate their Pride. The Parade culminates at the Green Point A Track, where festivities continue at the Pride Mardi Gras.

Tickets for the Pride Mardi Gras are available at Quicket.com Note that there will be no cash at the door, so it is advisable to get your Pride tickets online before Saturday.

Here are some highlights featured on the calendar, including some very exciting new additions:

The Mr and Miss Cape Town Pride Pageant is one of the most anticipated events of the Pride season, where new Pride royalty is crowned at a glittering and glamorous affair. Tickets are R130 and available at Computicket

The Sanlam Pride Heroes Awards recognise and honour those people in the community who have gone the extra mile in a number of different fields from entertainment to social work.

A first on the Cape Town Pride calendar is the Pride Cruise for LGBTIQA+ family and friends. The 4-day cruise to Mossel Bay and back to the Mother City on the MSC Sinfonia takes place from Friday 17th February to Monday 20th February. Some of Cape Town’s best loved drag performers, Manila von Teez, Kat Gilardi, Maxine Wild and Emogen Moore, will be providing onboard entertainment. For more info and to book contact: pride@grandeur-travel.co.za

The American Corner at the Cape Town City Library, courtesy of the Embassy of the United States, will be screening Equal, a riveting four-part docuseries which chronicles the landmark events and forgotten heroes of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. The screening will be at 3.00pm and admission is free,

The Pride Roller Disco last year was such a hit that we’re doing it again on Friday 17th February at the Rollercade in Battery Park at the V & A Waterfront. Meet up at 7.00pm for the most fun on eight wheels!

R150 - 2-hour session includes rental of skates and safety gear. R80 - bring your own skates. *No metal wheels allowed.

R40 - attendance fee for spectators. Bookings are essential to reserve your shoe size. Socks are necessary

Timeless Festival @ Cape Town Pride on Friday 17th is an exciting new event on the calendar. Timeless Festival and Cape Town Pride in association with The Death of Glitter are presenting a sexy club night at Club Paradise, in District 6. Cuttingedge club sounds and queer performance from the underground will be rising to the fore, with several of South Africa’s most prominent underground DJs and drag artists appearing on the line-up. These include Das Kapital, KDollahz, Queezy, AngelHo, Phijos, Odidiva and Ina Propriette. Tickets are available at Howler.

For lovers of gay ballroom and line-dancing, the Pride GAT Party takes place on Friday 24th February, at the Bellville Cricket Club. In case you didn’t get your fill, there will be a Pride edition of the LGBTQIA+ Dance Party at the Milnerton Hall on Saturday 25th February, another langarm sokkie.

Also on Saturday 25th February is the Pride Vogue Ball. Inspired by TV series’ such as Pose, Vogue Balls have taken Cape Town by Storm. And the category is……

The Pride Promenade Pets Walk takes place on Sunday 26th February. Show you Pride with your Pooch. Prizes for best dressed pet and owner. Even if you don’t have a furry friend of your own, some doggies from the Mdzananda Animal Clinic, who are also up for adoption, will be available to accompany you on the walk. Bring your family and pets and make a day of it. Meet at the Mouille Point Lighthouse at 10am. Walking to Sea Point Pavilion and back. Entry: R50. and the proceeds will go to Mdzananda Animal Clinic in Khayelitsha

The Queer Reading Room takes place on Wednesday 1st March. This has been described as a nude literary parlour event, celebrating art, queer bodies, queer literature, and the intimacy of being read to. This event is happening at Waves Theatre Café, 62 Hout St., Cape town CBD.

The Embassy of Sweden will be hosting a screening of the film My Father Marianne at the Labia Theatre at 6.00 pm on Wednesday 1st February. After breaking up with her boyfriend, Hanna returns to her hometown. When her beloved father, the priest with the big beard, reveals that he now wants to be Marianne, Hanna’s world is turned upside down. One critic said, “A wonderful movie that brought laughter and tears! Its not without reason that this film is an award winner.” Admission is free but seats must be reserved at Quicket.

For updates please visit: Website: https://cptpride.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capetownpride

• All aboard the • Sinfonia

• Cape Town • Harbour

THURSDAY

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• Fire & Ice Hotel, Tamboerskloof

• Venue: Club Paradise, • 9 Albertus St, District Six • Time: 8pm Fee: R80-R100