World

Hot 5 Pride

More Than Mardi Gras. Five of the world's quirkiest Pride events and where to find them.

Click play to watch

1. SEOUL DRAG PARADE
SOUTH KOREA

Move over RuPaul, Hurricane Kimchi has taken to the stage. Inspired by Korea’s regional queer festivals, Heezy Yang (AKA Hurricane Kimchi) founded the annual Seoul Drag Parade back in 2018. And it’s been a showstopper ever since.

Click play to watch

While it’s a totally inclusive LGBTQIA+ event, this parade focuses on—you guessed it—the art of drag. In a blog post, Yang says they had several dreams for the parade: firstly, they wanted to “bring drag into the daylight”; secondly, they wanted to include and display all types of drag, not just the “skinny and pretty drag queens who are cis-gendered male Korean nationals”; and lastly, to give kids access to the drag-dom. AMAZING. Go off, Seoul. The inaugural parade welcomed over 1,000 artists and allies, and this year’s party is set to be a blow out. BYO best wig, and get those stilettos outta the closet.

When — August 2023

Click to FILL YOUR SEOULS

2. THE BIG GAY 5K
USA

Sure, a fun run isn’t exactly everyone’s idea of a fun time (despite the name). BUT! What about running five kilometres through the streets of Denver during PrideFest?

Click play to watch

Now that’s a vibe. A fun, gay vibe. Still not sold? Spectators are welcome. Maybe even bring a giant '80s boom box and inspire the runners with a little Kylie or Cher, or >insert-other-incredible-party-anthem-icon-here<. Whether you’re a member of the queer community or an ally, everyone is encouraged to “run, walk, roll or sashay” at Civic Centre Park (where the race starts and ends). You should also stick around for the other Pride festivities, like the annual Dyke March or the beer bust at the Denver Wrangler.

When — June 2023

Click to RUN LIKE YOUR MASCARA

3. WINTER PRIDE
NEW ZEALAND

Think you can only be Pride-ful in the summertime? Guess again, amigos.

New Zealand has gone ahead and forged a new queer path with its very own Winter Pride week that’s all about skiing, slaying and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. There’s gonna be over 24 parties, eight on-mountain days and a bunch of delightful Kiwi accents. Hosted in Queenstown, so you know the pow is going to be fresh, the chance of bluebirds high and the après-ski vibes on point. Lots of aroha (love) from our mates down south.

When — August 2023

Click to FOLLOW THE RAIN-BRO, AY

4. fabALICE
AUSTRALIA

Never seen The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert? You now have official get lost-prescribed homework. Widely considered an Australian cinematic masterpiece, the 1994 film centres on two drag queens and a transgender woman travelling from Sydney to Alice Springs through the outback. Hugo Weaving! Guy Pearce! A tour bus named Priscilla!

Click play to watch

Fast forward to 2023 and Alice Springs now has its very own Pride Week, aptly named fabALICE, that extends Mardi Gras and WorldPride celebrations to the Red Centre.

Super family-friendly and packed with all the glitter that you’d expect from a Priscilla-inspired Pride event, you can choose from partying in Todd Mall, heading to a lip sync battle hosted by Marzi Panne and Miss Elleanous, drag queen bingo or even a The Sound of Music sing-a-long.

When — March 2023

Click to GET FROCKED & ROCKED

5. FIERTÉ MONTRÉAL
CANADA

Looking for a classic Pride celebration, but with a twist? Montréal is the city pour vous.

Founded in 2007, after the city’s prior Pride festival repositioned itself as a general arts and music festival. Now, it’s one of the largest queer festivals (attracting over three million visitors) in the world. SLAY, MONTRÉAL, SLAY.

There are a tonne of local events, but try and centre your time around the city’s gay neighbourhood—perfectly named Gay Village—where you’ll find a week-long street party, some of the world’s top drag performers, and DJ’s a plenty.

When — August 2023

Click to BE FIERT-CE