Manly Cove to host one of the international LGBTQIA+ festival’s first big events
Part of the biggest LGBTQIA+ celebration in the world is kicking off on the northern beaches. Get your togs on and check it out.
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There will be a whole lot of colour and movement in Manly Cove on Saturday when it hosts one of the first major events of the biggest LGBTQIA+ celebration in the world.
As part of Sydney WorldPride 2023’s Australian Queer Aquatic (AQuA) Festival, the waters along the West Esplanade will be taken over by hundreds of swimmers.
They will be taking part in the inaugural Bobby Goldsmith Foundation Memorial Swim from 7am as part of the AQuA “Beach Festival”.
The 1km and 2km swims, named after Bobby, an Australian athlete and member of the gay community in Sydney who became one of the First Australians to die from an AIDS-related illness, will help raise money to support people living with HIV.
Then from 10am, space in the Cove has been made for a 4-a-side water polo tournament.
AQuA, which includes a range of swimming and water polo events across the city, has been organised by The Wett Ones and Sydney Stingers water polo teams.
Northern Beaches Council has provided $20,000 in grants to seven community groups and organisations to stage performances and events linked to Sydney WorldPride 2023.
WorldPride was set up to promote and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and human rights across the world.
It will be Sydney’s biggest event since the 2000 Olympics and is being held in conjunction with the annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras between February 17 and March 5.
As part of its support, the council will hang rainbow banners across the local government area as well as give WorldPride bunting to 150 local businesses to decorate their shopfronts.
It will also set up temporary art installations in Manly and hold exhibitions in its libraries and art gallery in Manly Cove.
First nations artist Dennis Golding will have an exhibition at Manly Art Gallery while Drag Queen story time is on at Manly Library on February 25.
There will be rainbow art on the Manly Corso as part of a citywide mural program, youth focused activities from Girls on Fire at James Meehan Reserve, Dee Why Beach to help teens with problem solving and resilience building.
“Active Sessions” will be part of Collaroy Tennis Club’s Pride Day on March 4.
Running Stars will have “Rainbow sessions” on Sunday mornings at Winnererremy Bay Reserve at Mona Vale and John Fisher Park at Curl Curl.
Plus Rainbow Families/Fusion Pride are hosting a family friendly picnic on February 18 at Ted Jackson Reserve, Dee Why Beach, with entertainment and activities around live music while providing access to information for LGBTQIA+ families and their supporters.
In Avalon there will be a “Love is Love Community Social and PrideSwim” on February 19 at Dunbar Park and Avalon Beach.
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