Newcastle Pride Festival

Newcastle Pride runs from Friday 9 October to Sunday 25 October, three weeks of events across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Region. It's a celebration of sexuality and gender diversity that spreads out across the region rather than sticking to one spot, with the Pride Parade going from Nobby's Beach to Honeysuckle Car Park.

Fair Day is the big one, held at Gregson Park in Hamilton. It's billed as the biggest gay day of the year, with a main stage, a DJ dance space, drag shows, live music and a Doggywood Parade. If you're into the drag and dance side of things, that's where most of the action sits. The Official After Party follows on as a collaboration with POOF DOOF, promoted as one of the season's major dance parties.

For a bit of context, Newcastle sits at the mouth of the Hunter River, about 170km northeast of Sydney. It's New South Wales' second-largest city, a gateway to the Hunter Valley wine region and home to beaches like Merewether. The festival itself covers Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Region, so it reaches well beyond the city centre. The parade runs from Nobby's Beach to Honeysuckle Car Park, Fair Day is at Gregson Park in Hamilton, and the Official After Party is at the Newy Hotel, 139 Maitland Rd, Islington. It all runs from Friday 9 October to Sunday 25 October.