It’s time once again for Cape Town’s LGBTI community to take to the streets to mark Pride.

Amid much controversy, the Cape Town Pride Festival is back, under the theme of “Brave Enough”, and will be held from 19 to 28 February.

The parade and mardi gras take place on Saturday 27 February at Green Point Urban Park.  The parade starts at Gallows Hill Traffic Department in Green Point at 12pm. It will end at the P4 parking at the Cape Town Stadium. (See route map below.)

Then, join the festivities at the Redham Field in the Green Point Urban Park until 8pm. Entry is R40. 

Organisers say this will be “the biggest Pride in Cape Town ever”, with the mardi gras boasting more than 20 artists and celebrities taking part. Those that have been confirmed include 3 Tons of Fun, Odidiva, Terry Tiger, Coda Africa and Zoe Zana, as well as a host of DJs.

The event is being supported by the City of Cape Town and many of the city’s gay bars and clubs.

Other events planned for the 10-day-long festival include the Pink Party and a pool party; Ms Cape Town Pride; a sports day; movie screenings; a fashion show; and a church service. We will update this page with more details about Cape Town Pride events as we receive more information.

In December, the theme of “Gay, Proud and Colourblind” was criticised as exclusionary of other members of the LGBTI+ community, not reflecting the reality of South Africa’s racial inequality and pandering to “white-privileged” gay men.

The Pride committee agreed to change the theme, which is now “Brave Enough,” and linked to the WeTheBrave.co.za HIV awareness campaign targeting MSM (men who have sex with men).

Confirmed Cape Town Pride 2016 events

• Fri 19 Feb: Pink Party. De Waterkant gay village. From 8 PM. Facebook page
• Sat 20 Feb: Pride Official Pool Party. Ritz Hotel Cape Town. 12 PM – 6 PM. Facebook page
• Sat 20 Feb: Pre Pride Outstanding Picnic. Buyel’ Embo Village, Khayelitsha. 1 PM. Facebook page
• Sat 20 Feb: Mr & Miss Cape Town Pride. Centre for the Book. 7:30 PM – 11 PM. Facebook page
• Sun 21 Feb: Documentary Movie Night. Labia Theatre. 6 PM. Facebook page
• Mon 22 Feb: Pride Book Case with author Barbara Castle-Farmer. Alexander Bar. 6:30 PM – 9 PM. Facebook page
• Tue 23 Feb: Movie Night – Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Labia Theatre. 6:15 PM. Facebook page
• Wed 24 Feb: Pride Memorial Service. Pride Shelter. 6 PM. Facebook page
• Thu 25 Feb: DIVA’S Extravaganza. Crew Bar. 8 PM. Facebook page
• Fri 26 Feb: PELT men’s party. Beaulah Bar. From 8 PM. Facebook page
• Sat 27 Feb: Parade Day and Mardi Gras. Green Point Urban Park. 1 PM – 8 PM. Facebook page
• Sat 27 Feb: Crew Pride After Party. Crew bar. From 8 PM. Facebook page

You can buy tickets for these events at www.quicket.co.za. A discounted Multi Ticket is available that give you entry to a range of events at a reduced price.

For more details contact info@capetownpride.org or visit www.capetownpride.org / www.facebook.com/capetownpride