Albany Pride Festival seeks volunteers for 2023 festival

Organisers of Albany Pride Festival, WA’s biggest regional pride celebration, are looking for volunteers to join their team to help run next year’s program.

From March 3 to 12 next year, Albany will again be painted rainbow for the city’s sixth celebration of the Great Southern’s LGBTQIA+ community.

Festival organisers are on the look out for new volunteers keen to help make the celebrations happen.

Albany Pride volunteer co-ordinator Hannah Halls will be hosting an information session on Tuesday from 5.30pm at the Albany Surf Life Saving Club for returning volunteers and anyone who is interested in helping out.

Ms Halls said volunteers were needed in both behind-the-scenes work and during events at the festival, from running social media to helping with COVID-safe protocols.

“We’re always interested in members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies,” she said. “We’re really open to being joined by allies and family and friends of our community as well.”

Ms Halls also revealed some of the events slated for next year’s festival.

“One of the biggest parts of the festival is the fair day, which is a really an exciting day,” she said.

“And it also is one of the days we need a lot of volunteers because there’s just so many different parts.

“On the first weekend, we’ve got a big dance party at the White Star, and we’ve got a sports carnival on Sunday.”

There are also plans for a drag queen-hosted brunch, drag and burlesque circus performances, a community picnic and art workshops run by Perth-based mental health arts group Art Jam WA.

Ms Halls encouraged everyone in Albany to consider volunteering at the festival.

“Joining us and volunteering is really not just for members of our community, we’re really open to allies and family and friends,” she said.

“It’s a lot of fun and it’s also a really great way to get to know our community.”

To register for the information session, contact volunteer@albanypride. com.au.