Perth Voice Interactive

THIS year’s Pride parade will take place during the day to make the event more accessible to families “and people reluctant to visit Northbridge at night”.

Organiser Pride WA acknowledges the night parades clog the streets during already-busy times and hopes the new plan will keep traders happy.

And while some floats have been threadbare in previous years, organisers are hoping to improve the quality with a professional float-building program.

Perth city council looks likely to kick in about $45,000 (just under a fifth of the total cost), and it’s hoped the event will bring 55,000 people into Northbridge, particularly given the marriage equality debate. A report going to the next council meeting says feedback from traders has been positive, “with business owners believing that a daytime parade will bring additional lunchtime trade, whilst causing less disruption to evening trade”.

by DAVID BELL