OUT For The Weekend, Kilkenny’s Gay Pride festival is returning from 24th - 26th August this year. Now in its third year thanks to funding from The Community Foundation of Ireland and The Councils of the City & County of Kilkenny, the festival is offering up a more diverse line up of performance, art, theatre, music and symposiums to cater to everyone of all ages, genders and persuasions.
This years festival will be mostly focused on the Parliament Street area of Kilkenny City and kicks off on Friday 24th August with the opening of the Irish Queer Archives. A major coup for the festival, The Irish Queer Archives contains the most comprehensive collection of material in Ireland relating to homosexuality and general queer studies, providing fascinating insights into the social, cultural and political history of the LGBT communities in an Irish and international context during the latter half of the 20th century. It will be followed up by a night of performance, pop, dance and burlesque with cabaret crooner Captain Anchor accompanied by DJ Alex on the decks. Entry for this kick off party is free!
In another coup for the festival, Devious Theatre will be performing their acclaimed new show Phantasm by John Kennedy in Cleere’s Theatre for five performances from Thursday to Saturday night. The drug-addled romantic comedy opened at Solstice during Cork Midsummer Festival and this will be its debut performance in Kilkenny.
Saturday sees LGBT Diversity presenting Gay & Lesbian Health and Well-Being workshops in the Abbey Business Centre with free entry for all. One of Saturday night’s big shows sees the return of Rosie Howick perform her exhilirating Kylie, Lady Gaga & Katy Perry tribute extravaganza. DJ Razor’s 90’s Mixtape will be opening proceedings with DJ Iano wrapping things up with dancing into the wee hours.
The Sunday events include WalkabOUT Kilkenny, which begins at the Parade on Sunday morning with everyone welcome to join. The big musical hit of last years festival was the Rock OUT competition with this years Rock OUT Final taking place in the Foróige Drum Youth Centre at 4.30pm with some of the regions best young bands duking it out for a cash prize. Only the best will survive!
The weekend will be wrapping up with the dynamic twosome of the All Time DJs returning with an 80’s megamix entitled Now That’s What I Call All Time 80’s. The event takes place in Kilkenny from 24th - 26th August and all information can be found at the festival website www.OUTForTheWeekend.ie You can also hook up with OUT For The Weekend on Facebook and Twitter at @outftw.
