The Silver City transforms into the Rainbow City this coming weekend as the festival season kicks up its heels with the world-famous Broken Heel Festival.
The five-day event – which begins this Thursday – will see dolled-up drag artists, award-winning music and theatre acts, DJs and dancers perform to a no-doubt enthusiastic crowd.
Festival Director, Esther La Rovere, says many months of planning has gone into providing a star-studded festival for locals and interstate travellers, with final preparations in place to deliver a festival for the ages that pays tribute to 1994 road comedy movie, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
“It’s hectic. It’s a lot to produce and we’ve really got probably some of our biggest lineups this year – certainly some of our biggest stage shows,” Ms La Rovere told the Truth.
“For anyone who hasn’t been in our festival grounds, our staging and our lighting show and all of the effects that happen, it’s a really professional and quality production.
“It’s lovely to hear there’s still so many new people and locals that are in town who haven’t yet managed to experience our event and we are really thrilled and hope everyone will take the opportunity to join us.
“Seize the opportunity and catch them live.”
“There are amazing performers and people have really got to seize the opportunity and catch them live while they can. Don’t make it a moment where it’s like, ‘oh, we should have gone to that’. That’s my encouragement to people.”
Headlining the festival will be star of stage and screen, Rhonda Burchmore, who will perform at Friday night’s ‘Frock On Or Frock Off Party’, while Hans will bring his Disco Spektakular Tour to the festival on Saturday night. RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under contestants – first season winner Kita Mean and current season three contestant Rita Menu – will also feature across the weekend.
But it’s not just the performances on stage attendees will be able to enjoy, with the main street drag parade held on Saturday afternoon from 1pm with all-ages activities from 10.30am at the Town Square also able to be taken advantage of, as well as trips to Silverton and the Outback Resort on Sunday and Monday, respectively.
“There’s lots of ways people can access the event and it’d be great to see as many faces as we can local and from interstate. There’s lots of options for people to get amongst it or create a nice little quiet space to be able to catch one of the shows,” Ms La Rovere says.
“Everyone’s catered for. There are options for where they can sit to watch the shows, there are indoor and outdoor bars, there’s food until late. I just want to encourage people to come along and get into the spirit.”
And just a reminder, due to the parade, road closures are in place from 10am to 2pm on Saturday. If you want to access your car during this time, it’s best to park away from Argent St.
A fireworks show will happen at 8pm on Friday night and 9pm on Saturday night, so for anyone with pets who might get spooked, keep an eye on them.
For more information, visit https://www.bhfestival.com
