River Pride Parade
Brisbane's River Pride Parade is returning for Melt 2025 for a second year of gloating LGBTQIA+ celebrations.
Overview
It only takes one run for an event to establish itself as a much-loved addition to its city. The River Pride Parade achieved that feat in 2024. Last year, for the first time ever, boats went floating through Brisbane to give the Queensland capital a LGBTQIA+ celebration cruising down the city's main waterway. Held as part of Melt Festival, the flotilla's debut was such a success that the event is also locked in for a 2025 return.
Sydney has the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, which takes over Oxford Street for a night of celebration. Melbourne has the Midsumma Pride March, its equivalent in Fitzroy Street, St Kilda. Brisbane's show of pride is the only one that requires a watercraft, but that fits the River City. In 2025, River Pride Parade will help close out Melt on Saturday, November 8.
This time, colourful, sparkles-adorned and flag-waving vessels will venture from West End to Brisbane Powerhouse, again embracing everything that a pride parade should be — just on the water. More than 50 boats and other watercraft are expected to take part, accompanied by daytime fireworks and a mood-setting playlist. You can register now to hit the river, or you can mark your calendar and make plans to score a prime viewing spot at South Bank, Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane Powerhouse and New Farm Park.
2025's Melt Festival runs from Wednesday, October 22–Sunday, November 9. So far, River Pride Parade isn't the only event on the lineup, after Brisbane Powerhouse announced that Broadway icon Bernadette Peters is coming to the fest for an Australian-exclusive show.
Images: Markus Ravik.
Information
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