COUNTDOWN TO JOBURG PRIDE 08

Joburg Pride 2008, set to take place on October 4, is calling for floats, Pride-related events and advertising in the 2008 Pride Guide.

The Pride board has announced that is in the final stages of planning this year’s festival and parade.

The theme that has been decided on for 2008 is ‘Love, not hate’ – highlighting the spate of deadly hate crimes that have plagued the community – and this message will be part of all of Pride’s activities.

The Parade is due to be held on Saturday 4 October at Zoo Lake. The route is currently being finalised and will be announced shortly said the board in a media statement. The entertainment in the park after the Parade is also being finalised and an exciting line-up of artists has been promised to keep the celebration going.

Floats and Stalls

If you would like to enter a float or any kind of vehicle in the parade, complete the application form on the Pride website. Float entry fees are very reasonable, starting at R10 for a motorbike entered by an NGO to R500 for a large corporate float accommodating 25 people. All proceeds go towards making Pride bigger and better. 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 2008. To book a stall at the celebration in the park, complete the stall application form which can also be found on www.joburgpride.org. Please note that only stalls that have Environmental Certification from the Department of Health will be allowed to sell food.

Pride Guide Advertising

To advertise your product, brand, organisation or service in the Pride Guide, you need to book your placement urgently (by 22 August) and provide final artwork by 29 August. Ten thousand copies of the guide will be distributed around Gauteng in the two weeks leading up to the parade. Use the booking form under the ‘Advertising’ tab on www.joburgpride.org. Advertising rates can be found on the rate card document on the same page.

Fringe event listings

As with the 2007 festival, the board says it would like to highlight any Pride themed events that will take place during the week preceding the Pride Parade. From parties to exhibitions, from theatre shows to seminars, any gay or lesbian interest event taking place between Sunday 29 September and Saturday 4 October qualifies. The organisers need final details and logos by 22 August. Your event will be listed in the event schedules on the Pride website and in the Pride Guide at no cost. To have your event listed, e-mail your event details (including a description and time and date) to info@joburgpride.org.

After Party

Once again, Joburg Pride will not be offering or endorsing any official after-party, saying that it believes that there should be a variety of options for Pride-goers to choose from. It will however market any Pride themed party during the period as a Fringe Event on the events schedules on the Pride website and Pride Guide.