This year the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras celebrates its tenth year between 27 April & 2 May. Originally started as a means of bringing business to the Knysna area in one of its quiet times, while simulateously promoting pink talent, the Pink Loerie has become a prominent feature on South Africa's gay calendar. Of course, this Mardi Gras has not been without controversy, and right-wingers and other fundamentalists have tried to close it down, but it's got to 10, and that's an achievement worthy of congratulation.
Knysna is a beautiful setting for an event like this, and this year, as ever, there is a wide range of activities on offer. There are photographic and art exhibitions at Knysna Fine Art. (I remember the first year there was a naked tatooed man, discreetly draped...)
Tours are offered. A hike through the Knysna Forest “guided by a local hottie”, says the programme. An early morning nudist hike around Monkeyland and Birds of Eden. Surely a Booze Cruise....
Competitions abound. Mr Mardi Gras will be a finalist in the Mr Gay South Africa pagaent. Then, of course, there's drag: a Miss and a Mejuffrou. Latter title is for more mature galz.... And surely there are competitions for real women too. The full programme is available at www.pinkloeriemardigras.co.za
Presumably in honour of the fact this year is 2010 and we are hosting the World Cup, Knysna will see a PINK soccer Tournament involving 8 teams – 4 all boys teams and 4 all girlz teams -and if the boyz are very much like girlz or vice versa, that will also be OK.
The biggest activities at the Pink Loerie are the parties and the Parade. The Parade is on Saturday 1 May, and there are launch parties, after-parties, cruise parties, ladies only parties, you name.... Their names are evocative: The White Trash Party, The Sunset Latino Party, The Boys are Back in Town Party, The Gat Party, GirlzPlanet, Forever Young … and several more... There's even a Porn Star Party with the boys of Liberate Studios. Men only. (I bet titleholders won't be allowed to go to that one...hehehe)