The Local’s Quick Guide to Stockholm Pride 2011
As Scandinavia’s biggest pride festival begins on Monday in Stockholm, contributor Katherine Dunn provides a look at some highlights of the week-long celebration.
With Stockholm's Kungsträdgården park designated the official ‘Pride Park’, and featuring a number of events at nearby Kulturhuset off Sergels Torg, this year's Stockholm Pride brings a rainbow assortment lectures, films, concert and theatre performances to the Swedish capital for an entire week.
And most of the events are free and in English in order to celebrate this year’s theme-- “openness”--and to attract attendees who might not normally attend the events.
“Everyone is invited in, basically,” says Stockholm Pride spokesperson Helena Hellström Gefwert.
The festival will also focus on human rights and LBGT issues in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
While the Stockholm Pride website contains a complete listing of events, below are a few select events to watch out for during the week.
Monday
The opening ceremony at 2pm features speeches and songs, including an opening speech by Thomas Beatie, who became famous in 2008 after he became pregnant with his first child.
Anna Mohr and Kjell Rindar, two activitists who were involved in the formation of “Frigörelsedagen” (Liberation Day) in 1977, the precursor to Stockholm pride, will also speak.
The ceremonies will also present the official festival song - Show the World Tonight, by duo Straight Up.
Tuesday
On Tuesday the packed programs of lectures, concerts and parties begins. There are different lectures, almost all free, in “Pride Park” and at the Kulturhuset.
Zanele Muholi’s all-week photo exhibition of lesbian women in South Africa begins, and “Scotty the blue bunny is the rabbit of your dreams”, a production by Riksteatern, plays at 4pm.
Free entry after-parties are also held at Pride Park and the Kulturhuset.
Wednesday
Wednesday features a packed schedule all day long. For kids, from 2pm-6pm, Tom Tits Experiment hosts experiments for kids, and at night, the park transforms for the first ever ‘Hardcore Night’, a rock-only concert.
At 9pm, check out the Lip Shit Queers burlesque show at the Kulturhuset.
Thursday
On Thursday, head over to the Kulturhuset for a packed afternoon of lectures on homophobia, sex work, queer bondage, and a lecture by Thomas Beatie at 3.15pm (70 kronor.)
But make sure to reserve the evening for the Stockholm Pride Schlager Gala, featuring schlager artists from across Sweden and Europe.
Friday
Trek between Pride Park and Kulturhuset for lectures on LGBT issues in Uganda, the Middle East, and Lithuania, a sexuality workshop, and a chance to try on a beard at Studio Vilgefortis!
In the evening, Pride Senior includes a guided viewing of the Armémuséets, music and a film viewing. Clubs around Stockholm also have their own events, including a club night for women over 30 at Nalen.
Saturday
If you’ve only got one day for Stockholm Pride, save for it for parade day. The parade will head from Zinkendamm on Södermalm to Sergels Torg in central Stockholm, and organizers say they expect 350,000 participants and 40,000 spectators this year for a massive walking party and demonstration.
Feel free to join in along the way, and then stay in the park for the biggest and best of Pride nights out. There will be more than 20 different acts, including Christian Walz, Diamond Dogs, Ulrik Munther and Straight Up.
Sunday
If you can pull yourself out of bed, there’s no better way to spend the last day of the festival than at the Stockholm Pride & Cinema Queer Film Festival.
Choose from films, director’s talks and performances at Södra Teatern. A 150 kronor pass covers the whole day.
For more information, check out the links below.
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With Stockholm's Kungsträdgården park designated the official ‘Pride Park’, and featuring a number of events at nearby Kulturhuset off Sergels Torg, this year's Stockholm Pride brings a rainbow assortment lectures, films, concert and theatre performances to the Swedish capital for an entire week.
And most of the events are free and in English in order to celebrate this year’s theme-- “openness”--and to attract attendees who might not normally attend the events.
“Everyone is invited in, basically,” says Stockholm Pride spokesperson Helena Hellström Gefwert.
The festival will also focus on human rights and LBGT issues in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
While the Stockholm Pride website contains a complete listing of events, below are a few select events to watch out for during the week.
Monday
The opening ceremony at 2pm features speeches and songs, including an opening speech by Thomas Beatie, who became famous in 2008 after he became pregnant with his first child.
Anna Mohr and Kjell Rindar, two activitists who were involved in the formation of “Frigörelsedagen” (Liberation Day) in 1977, the precursor to Stockholm pride, will also speak.
The ceremonies will also present the official festival song - Show the World Tonight, by duo Straight Up.
Tuesday
On Tuesday the packed programs of lectures, concerts and parties begins. There are different lectures, almost all free, in “Pride Park” and at the Kulturhuset.
Zanele Muholi’s all-week photo exhibition of lesbian women in South Africa begins, and “Scotty the blue bunny is the rabbit of your dreams”, a production by Riksteatern, plays at 4pm.
Free entry after-parties are also held at Pride Park and the Kulturhuset.
Wednesday
Wednesday features a packed schedule all day long. For kids, from 2pm-6pm, Tom Tits Experiment hosts experiments for kids, and at night, the park transforms for the first ever ‘Hardcore Night’, a rock-only concert.
At 9pm, check out the Lip Shit Queers burlesque show at the Kulturhuset.
Thursday
On Thursday, head over to the Kulturhuset for a packed afternoon of lectures on homophobia, sex work, queer bondage, and a lecture by Thomas Beatie at 3.15pm (70 kronor.)
But make sure to reserve the evening for the Stockholm Pride Schlager Gala, featuring schlager artists from across Sweden and Europe.
Friday
Trek between Pride Park and Kulturhuset for lectures on LGBT issues in Uganda, the Middle East, and Lithuania, a sexuality workshop, and a chance to try on a beard at Studio Vilgefortis!
In the evening, Pride Senior includes a guided viewing of the Armémuséets, music and a film viewing. Clubs around Stockholm also have their own events, including a club night for women over 30 at Nalen.
Saturday
If you’ve only got one day for Stockholm Pride, save for it for parade day. The parade will head from Zinkendamm on Södermalm to Sergels Torg in central Stockholm, and organizers say they expect 350,000 participants and 40,000 spectators this year for a massive walking party and demonstration.
Feel free to join in along the way, and then stay in the park for the biggest and best of Pride nights out. There will be more than 20 different acts, including Christian Walz, Diamond Dogs, Ulrik Munther and Straight Up.
Sunday
If you can pull yourself out of bed, there’s no better way to spend the last day of the festival than at the Stockholm Pride & Cinema Queer Film Festival.
Choose from films, director’s talks and performances at Södra Teatern. A 150 kronor pass covers the whole day.
For more information, check out the links below.
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