Waverley Council celebrates the countdown to Sydney WorldPride 2023

Waverley Council today celebrated the 100-day countdown to the start of Sydney WorldPride 2023 on 17 February 2023 until 5 March.

Sydney WorldPride 2023 will be the very first WorldPride in the southern hemisphere and the most significant global tourism event in Australia since COVID-19.

Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos, said the event is expected to draw up to 1.2 million attendees and will be a major boost to the Greater Sydney tourism economy, with a focus on the arts, culture, and hospitality sectors.

Mayor Masselos was among the local leaders who gathered at Bondi Pavilion this morning for the 100-day countdown to the event, which was celebrated with the unveiling of a rainbow sand sculpture on the Pavilion forecourt.

^{Superstar performers at this morning's media announcement at Bondi Pavilion. Picture: Waverley Council.}

Several key events will be held in Waverley and other parts of the city during Sydney WorldPride including the World Pride Bondi Beach Party on Saturday 4 March from 3pm to 10pm.

The beach party will include a mix of music, live entertainment performances, various beach sports including the International WorldPride Beach Volley-Ball Competition, and a food and beverage precinct.

“Bondi is synonymous with diversity, inclusion, respect, and fun and this positive perception of Waverley’s local identity combined with the natural beauty of Bondi Beach is key to the Bondi Beach Party event’s prominent inclusion in the Sydney WorldPride program,” Mayor Masselos said.

“Organisers will engage with local community groups in the lead up to, and during the event to ensure the Bondi Beach Party reflects the values of the Bondi community and that broad engagement opportunities, such as volunteering, are prioritised for locals.

^{Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos next to the rainbow sand sculpture on display until tomorrow evening at the Bondi Pavilion forecourt. Picture: Waverley Council.}

“WorldPride 2023 provides Waverley the unique opportunity to affirm itself as the essential beachside lifestyle, dining and entertainment hub destination, as well as a ‘must stay’ accommodation location for the duration of the event and will benefit of local businesses greatly during this period of economic recovery after lockdowns.

"It will also showcase our newly restored Bondi Pavilion to an international audience both as venue for world-class events and as community gathering space and a place of local history and connection.”

A detailed Event Management and Delivery Plan has/will be developed to deliver a safe event with a quality participant experience that respects the natural environment and manages any potential adverse impacts on the non-event community.

^{Bondi Beach will be showcased to the world during Sydney WorldPride 2023. Picture: Waverley Council.}

Another key Waverley event in the Sydney WorldPride curated program is ‘The Air Is Electric’- an exhibition presented in partnership with the Australian Queer Archives and Waverley Council in the Bondi Pavilion Gallery from 10 February – 26 March 2023, from 10am – 5pm daily.

‘The Air Is Electric’ presents never-before seen photographs from one of Australia’s most significant artists, with a selection of his postcards, to highlight the sense of discovery and creative exchange at a time of emergent gay public in Australia, and the increasing internationalisation of gay culture of the period.

Sydney WorldPride 2023 announced that furthers tickets to the beach party will go on sale today, Wednesday November 9. Details: https://moshtix.com.au/v2/event/bondi-beach-party/141353.

2023 also marks 50 years of Australian Gay Pride Week and the 45th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

-ENDS-

Media inquiries for Waverley Council: media@waverley.nsw.gov.au or 0416 075 532.

For event inquiries, please contact Sydney WorldPride 2023 or event strategic partner, Destination NSW.