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After six long years, Northside Bizarre is strapping back in. The beloved leather and kink street party will return to The Laird Hotel this Saturday (11 October), bringing together fetish fans, community groups, curious newcomers and long-time locals for a gloriously cheeky afternoon of fundraising, fun and freedom.

Hosted by Thorne Harbour Health in partnership with The Laird, the event quickly became a mainstay of Melbourne鈥檚 queer calendar. It鈥檚 equal parts community market, charity auction, street fair and slightly naughty social mixer 鈥� and after a six-year break, its organisers say they are truly back by popular demand.

A queer kink newbie鈥檚 guide

鈥淎fter six years, bringing Northside Bizarre back has been a journey,鈥� said Caleb Hawk, Communications and Community Engagement Manager at Thorne Harbour Health. 鈥淔ollowing the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing the event back simply wasn鈥檛 in the best interest of our communities. As time went on, the team debated whether the event had run its course. But Northside Bizarre gained this sort of cult following, especially from our kink and fetish communities 鈥� they鈥檝e been asking for its return.鈥�

For those who鈥檝e never been, think of it as the most welcoming crash course in Melbourne鈥檚 kink scene imaginable 鈥� a place where curiosity is encouraged, consent is celebrated, and absolutely everyone over 18 is invited to come have a look around.

鈥淣orthside Bizarre has always been a chance for the kink-curious to dip their toes in,鈥� Caleb explained. 鈥淲hether that鈥檚 buying your first piece of leather for cheap at Leather & Treasure, or just seeing something eye-opening on The Laird Stage.鈥�

Northside Bizarre: the return of a community institution

For The Laird听尘补苍补驳别谤 Brett Lasham, deciding to bring the event back was equal parts thrilling and nerve-wracking. 鈥淭he whole COVID 鈥� or 鈥楾he Dark Times鈥� as we call them 鈥� really had an impact on the psyche of event producers. But with enough coaxing from the folks at Thorne Harbour, we felt it鈥檚 time. It鈥檚 the only event we know of where the leather and kink communities have an outdoor event tailored for them.鈥�

First held as a fundraiser for Thorne Harbour鈥檚 David Williams Fund, which supports people living with HIV, Northside Bizarre quickly became one of Melbourne鈥檚 most unique and loved community events.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about kink,鈥� Brett said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about giving people a space to express themselves, to connect, and to raise money for a cause that鈥檚 been supporting our communities for decades.鈥�

Leather, latex and accessibility

At the heart of the event is Leather & Treasure, a bustling second-hand market where preloved leather, latex and gear are sold to raise funds for Thorne Harbour Health.

鈥淥ne of our iconic auctioneers, Tex McKenzie, always reminds folks how important the Leather & Treasure area has been since the event鈥檚 inception,鈥� Caleb said. 鈥淟eather can be quite expensive, and we wanted to make it more accessible for folks on a budget. We also know a lot of people have pieces they don鈥檛 wear anymore 鈥� giving them a second life while raising money for the community just made sense.鈥�

Brett added that it鈥檚 one of the most chaotic and exciting parts of the day. 鈥淭he Leather & Treasure area gets absolutely swamped with folks looking to snap up a bargain,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e price to sell, not to profit. My advice? Get in line early, be patient, and respect that our volunteers are doing their best to help with fittings and advice.鈥�

Fundraising with flair

Throughout the day, attendees can catch one of four live auctions 鈥� where everything from local art to gift vouchers go under the hammer 鈥� or wander over to the MasterBaker tent, where queer sporting clubs compete in a hilariously wholesome bake-off.

鈥淗aving previously been the president of an LGBTIQA+ sporting club, MasterBaker has a special place in my heart,鈥� Caleb said. 鈥淭he baking competition pits half a dozen queer sporting clubs against one another as they raise funds for Thorne Harbour Health. Whether you鈥檙e a sweet tooth or not, call past just to see what the teams have come up with.鈥�

Add to that the VicBears BBQ, live demos on The Laird Stage, and cocktails shaking behind the bar, and it鈥檚 no wonder the day has earned a reputation as the most joyful kind of sensory overload.

The myths and the message

Events like Northside Bizarre play a crucial role in breaking down stigma and myth. 鈥淚 think the biggest misconception is that being part of kink and leather communities means you have to be 鈥榠nto鈥� everything,鈥� Caleb said. 鈥淭hat can be a really overwhelming thought for people. We鈥檝e always wanted Northside Bizarre to be kink-inspired, but anyone 18+ is welcome to come through the gates, have a look around, ask questions 鈥� or not.鈥�

Brett agreed, saying that visibility and conversation are key. 鈥淧eople think it鈥檚 all about dark rooms, taboos, or things that happen behind closed doors. In reality, kinksters just want to get out there in their gear without judgement. Most are more than happy to chat about their outfits or kinks 鈥� as long as you approach respectfully. And of course, wearing gear isn鈥檛 consent.鈥�

Consent, curiosity and respect

Both organisers emphasised that consent and boundaries aren鈥檛 just buzzwords 鈥� they鈥檙e the backbone of kink culture.

鈥淭he public conversation around consent has become louder in recent years,鈥� Caleb said, 鈥渂ut kink and fetish communities have been navigating those complexities for a long time. You can learn a lot from a seasoned kinkster about communication and the importance of clear negotiation. Often, people are surprised to learn that the person 鈥榠n control鈥� is often the one in the submissive role.鈥�

For newcomers, the advice is simple. 鈥淏e curious, be respectful, and if you want to get a picture with someone 鈥� just ask,鈥� Brett said. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e after info on how to get started, this is the place to find out.鈥�

A space for everyone

Perhaps the most beautiful thing about Northside Bizarre is how inclusive it鈥檚 always been. For one day a year, The Laird 鈥� a men-only venue 鈥� throws open its doors to all genders.

鈥淣orthside Bizarre is one of the few times in the calendar when The Laird is open to all genders,鈥� Caleb noted. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also one of the rare times you鈥檒l see LGBTIQA+ women working behind the bar.鈥�

He added that the event鈥檚 success is a true collaboration: 鈥淣orthside Bizarre isn鈥檛 possible without the generosity of community groups, local artists, performers, business owners, sporting clubs and volunteers. The diversity of people involved helps make it a space where everyone feels welcome.鈥�

The heart of queer community

At its core, Northside Bizarre isn鈥檛 just about leather and latex 鈥� it鈥檚 about connection. It鈥檚 about creating a space where queerness, kink, and community care intersect.

鈥淐ome as you are,鈥� Caleb said simply. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need to be kitted out in head-to-toe leather. The day is kink-inspired, but it鈥檚 really about our tribes coming together to support community health and wellbeing.鈥�

As Brett put it, 鈥淩espectful curiosity and acceptance 鈥� that鈥檚 what I hope people take home. We鈥檝e all got our likes and dislikes, our turn-ons and turn-offs. If you鈥檙e afraid of boobs or bare butts, this may not be for you. But if you鈥檙e open-minded, you鈥檒l find a community that鈥檚 warm, funny, and deeply respectful.鈥�

When the music fades and the auctioneer鈥檚 voice finally quiets, what lingers isn鈥檛 just the scent of leather 鈥� it鈥檚 the feeling of belonging. After six years away, Northside Bizarre is back, and Melbourne鈥檚 queer community couldn鈥檛 be happier.

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