The five-day festival is one of South Africa’s most exciting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) events and will celebrate the theme, Funky Town, with comedy and cabaret, live music and dancing, a diverse programme of visual arts, an art exhibition, the popular Mardi Gras pageants, including Mr and Miss Mardi Gras, as well as the OTT Me Mardi Gras and shows by top South African performers including Boylesque and Queens of Funky Town.
Other highlights include the annual parade down Knysna’s Main Street on Saturday, May 3, a colourful procession of decorated floats and pedestrians - many of whom are strutting their stuff to raise money for local charities - which provides fun and entertainment for the whole family.
Two fundraising events will take place on Friday, May 2: a VIP dinner and fundraising auction with guest of honour Mr Gay World 2013, Chris Olwage; and The Queens of Funky Town Fundraising Auction. A flea market, including a Barefoot wine garden, will be open daily until Saturday, May 3 at the Knysna Mall upper level from 10:00 to 17:00.
Knysna Tourism’s Marketing Manager, Johan van Schalkwyk, says that Knysna is proud to welcome the LGBTI community. “The Pink Loerie Mardi Gras is getting bigger and better every year, and is now one of the highlights on the international gay calendar,” he said. “It’s a fun event which brightens up the town and brings a much-needed capital injection to local businesses during a historically quiet time of the year. It also adds funds to the coffers of many local charities including the Loeriehof Old Age Home, Knysna Animal Welfare and the Mayor's Social Relief Fund.
“We are grateful that the Pink Loerie organisers choose Knysna as a venue for their festival every year and that the locals turn out in their numbers to support the events, particularly the parade and arts festival,” said Van Schalkwyk.
Pink Loerie co-ordinator John O’Neil says that the festival is “home-grown by Knysnarians. It was started by local businessmen to entice tourists to the town during the slow month of May and reinvigorate the local economy, and at the same time celebrate the cultural contribution the LGBT community makes to the region. It has become one of the most written about and must-see annual celebrations within the global LGBTI community. We come back to Knysna every year because, apart from its scenic beauty, the town is hospitable and gay-friendly and we get support for the festival from all sectors of the community.”
Entry forms for all the pageants, as well as applications for parade floats and flea market stalls can be found on www.pinkloerie.co.za.
Photo: Elle Photography.
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