Annual Albany Pride off to a colourful start with performances following banner thefts and community support

WA’s third-biggest regional Pride Festival kicked off at the weekend in a flurry of vibrant colours at the Town Square.

With the theme Let’s Get Visible, Albany Town Hall was lit up in a rainbow on Saturday night to herald the beginning of the festival.

Despite the theft of promotional banners and posters in the lead-up to the event, Albany Pride organisers were undeterred in their efforts, which were matched by support from the community.

From drag performances by BarbieQ and friends to a DJ set with Auslan interpreters and Freedom Fairies weaving their way through the festival with Pride bubbles, there was an explosion of colour and visibility.

“Visibility is about showing society that we live normal lives, that we contribute to our society and communities like everyone else does,” Albany Pride president Annie Arnold said.

A child-friendly workshop was put on at Albany Town Hall, with juggling, hula-hooping, and plate-spinning tutorials delivered by talented artists from Kinetica Circus, drawing in some budding performance artists.

The drawcard of the fair was the Fair Day Dog Show, with fabulous-looking pooches taking the limelight.

And that’s only the beginning.

With a full week of events, from an art, jam, and clay meditation workshop and drag shows to a rollerskating derby, the festival aims to embrace inclusivity and fun in a rainbow package for all.