COUNTDOWN TO JOBURG PRIDE 2009!

The organisers of Joburg Pride 2009 have called for the community to apply for floats, stalls, event listings and advertising in the Pride guide.

They said that the event is in the final stages of planning and will take place on 3rd October, under the theme of ‘You Need Pride’, kicking off from Zoo Lake Sports Club through the streets of Rosebank.

Marchers then return to Zoo Lake Sports Club for the rest of the Pride Day festivities until 6pm. Besides the entertainment and 94.7 Highveld Stereo DJs, the Community Village, Pride stalls with all sorts of goodies on display and on sale, bars, food and a kiddies’ play area will also be on offer.

Floats and Stalls

To enter a float or any kind of vehicle in the parade, complete the application form on the Pride website. Float entry fees start at R10 for a motorbike entered by an NGO to R500 for a large corporate float accommodating 25 people. Of course, individuals on foot do not pay to participate in the parade. The float / vehicle application form is now available for download on www.joburgpride.org. An award will be given to the best float, judged on the criteria of appearance, creativity (crowd appeal, originality of idea) and understanding of the theme of Joburg Pride 2009.

To book a stall at the celebration in the park following the parade, complete the stall application form which can also be found on www.joburgpride.org. (Please note that all food stalls have been allocated.)

Pride Guide Advertising

To advertise your product, brand, organisation or service in the Pride guide, placements must be booked by 25 August and final artwork provided by 31 August. Ten thousand copies of the guide will be distributed around Gauteng in the two weeks leading up to the parade. Download the Pride Guide Advertising Rate Card on www.joburgpride.org for more information.

Fringe event listings

Joburg Pride said that it would like to highlight any Pride themed events that will take place during the week preceding the Pride Parade. Any gay or lesbian interest event taking place between Saturday 26 September and Saturday 3 October 2009 qualifies. The event will be listed in the event schedules on the Pride website and in the Pride guide at no cost. Final details and logos are required by 26 August for the Pride guide and no later than 18 September for the website. To have an event listed, e-mail details (including a description and time and date) to info@joburgpride.org.

As in the last few years, Joburg Pride said that it will not be offering or endorsing any official after-party. “We believe there should be a variety of options for Pride-goers to choose from and we will market any Pride themed party during the period as a Fringe Event on the events schedules on our website and in our Pride Guide,” said the organisation.

All forms can be found on the new Pride website at www.joburgpride.org.