Bay Pride shines bright with queer pride at Wynnum Fringe
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Bay Pride shines bright with queer pride at Wynnum Fringe
A celebration of inclusion, visibility and community, Bay Pride returns as part of Wynnum Fringe with fabulous queer content.
Wynnum Fringe is Queensland’s quirkiest winter arts festival.
As it transforms Brisbane’s bayside into a buzzing hub of community and entertainment.
Bay Pride is the award-winning LGBTQ+ umbrella festival as part of Wynnum Fringe.
Creating a joyful space where all members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies are welcome.
It all kicked off with a family-friendly pride walk this past weekend.
“This was our second one, but we didn’t know what to expect.” Wynnum Fringe Founder, CEO / Artistic Director Tom Oliver told QNews.
“Last year, we had such a big controversy and protesters that we had a really big turnout.”
“And we never thought we would get close to that this year.
Image by Tina Eastley
There’s a need for a march like this.
“But on Sunday, we had over 1500 people walking with us, which shows a big love and need for a march like this.” Oliver said.
“The event feels different to other pride events because it’s a really family-focused one.
“With people of all ages walking together.
“I think we’ve started a nice organic tradition, and it is lovely.”
Radio host husbands Tony Tranter and Jasper Manfield have curated a fabulous line of events with Bay Pride
Including a drag bunch, camp bingo and a late-night screening of the Aussie camp classic ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’.
Oliver says the spirit of community that’s part of Bay Pride is all thanks to Tony and Jasper.
With Tony as creative director of Bay Pride.
“They have been in the Bayside community for a lot of their life,” Oliver said.
“And are the perfect pioneers for progression, growth and an event that represents their people.
“To have them leading the charge of Bay Pride takes a huge weight off my shoulders logistically, but is also really important.”
Image by Tina Eastley
World-class entertainment comes to Wynnum.
The Wynnum Fringe program is built around the idea of connection, culturally, creatively and geographically.
With the 2025 theme of ‘Mateship’.
“It’s about the ties that bind us, between artists and audiences, city and country, and the bush and the bay,” Oliver said.
“This year’s festival is all about championing big talent, big stories and big love for Queensland.”
“It is a festival that feels both intimate and world-class, and that is what keeps audiences coming back.”
Wynnum Fringe began as a grassroots COVID recovery initiative in 2020 and is now one of the state’s most anticipated cultural events.
Part of the lineup for Bay Pride is beloved stage icon and Wynum Fringe Ambassador Rhonda Burchmore.
Who returns with her hit cabaret show, Rhonda’s After Party, after a sold-out season at Wynnum Fringe in 2023, before starring run at Darwin Festival.
“Wynnum Fringe has become one of my favourite gigs on the calendar,” Burchmore said.
“It is glamorous, grassroots and gloriously fun, and I am thrilled to be back with the fabulous people of the bay.”
Part of the reason Oliver is so proud to highlight Burchmore as part of the Bay Pride and Wynnum Fringe program is that this wasn’t a festival she needed to do.
“The show in itself is world-class,” he said
“Rhonda could have done this anywhere in Australia, and she’s decided to do it in Wynnum.
“It’s great to see a show that we built in Wynnum starting to have a life in other places around the country.”
Image: Supplied
Queer led and queer run.
From a late-night screening of Pricilla, Queen of the Desert to Drag Race Down Under’s Beverly Kills Drag Brunch, there is something for everyone.
Plus iconic entertainment with Gogo Bumhole and Tash York’s Chaos Cabaret.
“It’s so incredible to see the Bayside getting behind pride events and programming.” Tash York told QNews.
“As someone who grew up in Brisbane, there weren’t a lot of pride events around.”
“So it is cool to see that the regions of Queensland are starting to really pick up and show up for our queer community.
“I am so excited to be a part of Bayside Brunch, Bayside Burlesque and also present my show Chaos Cabaret.
“They are all queer lead, queer run and queer casted shows and productions and are going to be a hoot.”
Bay Pride and Wynnum Fringe host a beautiful collection of artists, but also create a space of connection to art and community.
“I’m excited because on the 19th of July is pretty much queer programming from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m,” Oliver said
“After the March, people were already talking about how excited they were for next year,”
“But they don’t have to wait because with Bay Pride and Wynuum Fringe, we have something for them to attend and be a part of sooner.”
Click here to check out the full program and purchase tickets for Bay Pride, part of Wynnum Fringe.
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