Perth Pride Run and Walk kicks off more than a week of festivities for PrideFEST

The Swan River was alive with rainbow colours on Saturday as almost 1000 ran and walked to kick off a week of Pride celebrations in Perth.

Participants took on either a 3km, 5km, or 7km run or walk at the Perth Pride Run and Walk at Elizabeth Quay, all in the name of celebrating the State’s LGBTQIA+ community.

The early-morning exercisers were also rewarded with live music and entertainment at the festival zone, food trucks, market stalls and the event mascot — Queer Quokka.

Perth Frontrunners organiser Steve Wellard said it was the first year the run was in Elizabeth Quay.

“We were absolutely thrilled with the result — nearly 1000 people showed up and the weather was amazing,” he said.

“We are really proud to be a PrideFest Plus event. We have been running this event for five years in a row and we double our numbers every single year.”

The fun run kicked off Pride Week in Perth with thousands expected to attend more than 100 events across the city until Sunday next week.

The Fair Day will take over the Supreme Court Gardens from 10am to 6pm on Sunday with an array of market stalls, entertainment, drag queens, food trucks and stories for the younger crowds.

Music and community will come together for PrideFEST Live from 5pm Friday night, with the line up featuring PNAU, Vera Blue, Cub Sport, and Montaigne.

On Saturday, there will be the much-anticipated Pride Parade through the streets of Northbridge kicking off at 8pm.

And if you can’t attend the parade, all the action will be livestreamed on PerthNow.

There will be entertainment starting even earlier with three pop-up stages at the corner of Aberdeen and Lake Street, William and James Street, and James and Lake Street.

From 9.30pm, Russell Square will open up for the parade party, with a line-up of DJs on until 12am.

pridewa.com.au