Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts Festival 2019

Africa’s most colourful gay event – in the heart of the Garden Route!

Set in “South Africa’s Favourite Town of the Year”, the spectacularly colourful affair basically shuts down the tranquil Garden Route hub with five raucous days of shows, entertainment, a mini-market and heaps of over-the-top, flamboyant fun.

Unquestionably a global highlight for the LGBTQ community, the festive carnival also appeals to anyone else who wants to celebrate diversity and acceptance.

Pink Loerie 2019 kicks off on Thursday 30 May with a cocktail party at Knysna Fine Art, where Petronel Baard will be performing.

This will be followed by a Bears, Beer and Drag event at Mitchells’ Breweries. The newly refurbished Vinyl on Main (the old club Zanzibar) will host the Meet and Greet Party to make sure everybody gets to know each other.

The programme continues on the Friday with an outreach event at the Loeriehof Old Age Home, Vermont Retirement Village, Paula Whitney Crèche and KAWS (Knysna Animal Welfare), followed by a lunchtime show presented by Storm Productions.

The VIP Dinner and Fundraising Auction will be hosted at Villa Castollini, while the very popular Mr & Miss Gay Mardi Gras will take place at Vinyl on Main. This will be followed by the official S&M Party at the same venue.

The Saturday kicks off with two events: PinkFootFWD for Brenton, a fun morning filled with sport activities and music, and the Pink Loerie #KnysnaRises Fundraising Concert at the Loerie Park Sport Stadium, which will feature a number of drag acts and musicians, including rock outfit Rebel Remedy and artist Gaston.

This event is presented in association with Knysna Tourism, GaySA Radio, Storm Productions, CB Entertainment and Mix Academy Entertainment.

The always popular street parade starts at 3pm and will proceed from Queen Street to Pledge Square and back, hopefully followed by a street party (if the Municipality agrees to it.) Drydock Food Co. will host an After Parade Sunset Ibiza Party for the more mature in the crowd, while the official after party is at Vinyl on Main.

Plans are afoot for a mini gospel show on the Sunday and GaySA Radio is also planning to bring a few theatre performances to the event (more details will be released in due course).

After the devastating fires a few months ago, Baird said that the Pink Loerie will of course continue to support the #KnysnaRises campaign.

So what is the S&M theme all about? Most people immediately think whips, leather and chains, but it was revealed that the theme is actually… Sequins and Mascara!

It looks like Gay May in Knysna is going to be simply dazzling!

Here are the hotels we recommend that have good reviews and keep you close to all the action,

Turbine Hotel,   Madison Manor,   38 Crab Claw,   Augusta Bay.