City of Parramatta sparkles with the arrival of WorldPride 2023

The City of Parramatta will be flying the rainbow flag as Sydney prepares for the arrival of the world’s largest LGBTIQA+ festival, WorldPride.

Council is joining local communities to celebrate WorldPride’s first time in Australia with an exciting lineup of events and activities across the CBD throughout February and March.

During WorldPride the pride flag will fly on the banks of Parramatta River, while Parramatta Square will be transformed with the installation of vibrant rainbow-coloured stairs. The roof of PHIVE will also be illuminated in the colours of the Pride Progress Flag.

“The City of Parramatta welcomes WorldPride to Australia; we are excited to join the world’s largest celebration of pride and diversity,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Donna Davis said.

“From our fabulous rainbow stairs in Parramatta Square, PHIVE’s sparkling roof and performances at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta will be a kaleidoscope of colour over the next few weeks.

“Parramatta is one of Australia’s most diverse and inclusive communities and I am so proud of who we are.

“WorldPride is an opportunity for us to amplify the unique and valued voices of people from our wonderful LGBTQIA+ communities. Everyone’s story matters and this is great time for us to share and celebrate them.”

PHIVE will be hosting special PRIDE workshops, including a creative studio with Jordan Gogos – the founder and designer of bold and eclectic Sydney fashion house Iordanes Spyridon Gogos, and incredible inflatable artworks created by the Beautiful and Useful studio.

Several art installations will also be dotted around Parramatta Square, including Parramatta Artists’ Studio’s Nadia Odlum’s work ‘Slippery Directions’.

Western Sydney LGBTIQA+ writing group WestWords will showcase its latest work, with a third anthology being launched at PHIVE on 26 February. The group provides a safe place for queer writers to express their vulnerabilities and share stories of coming out, cultural heritage and being alive and proud.

Parramatta’s Riverside Theatres is hosting five productions in conjunction with Sydney WorldPride, with two from Riverside’s own production company, National Theatre of Parramatta, beginning with the Australian premiere of Choir Boy from 14 February and a new work The Life Cycle of Blanco. Award-winning box office hit Matador, Queerstories X Worldpride, and Hafla an afternoon celebrating queer Western Sydney artists, are also part of the exciting line up.

City of Parramatta is a proud supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community and is one of four Councils in NSW to join the Welcome Here program, which supports businesses and services throughout Australia all-year round to create and promote safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community.

For details about WorldPride events click here