This month marks 40 years since the Victorian Parliament voted to decriminalise homosexuality, a historic moment for the state's same-sex attracted residents.

Related: Bendigo Pride Festival organisers announce 2021 event dates

Bendigo Pride Festival organisers will commemorate the occasion this Saturday with Pop-Up Pride Bendigo at the Library Gardens, beside the Bendigo Town Hall.

Homegrown drag queens Matte Finish and Polly Filla will glam up Bendigo with performances between 12 noon and 5pm.

Local artists Sherri Parry and Bill Barber will provide musical entertainment.

Bendigo Pride Festival Director John Richards said it was important to reflect on how far LGBTQIA+ Victorians had come since the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

"It seems unimaginable today that it was once illegal for gay people to simply be themselves," he said.

"But many gay people living in Bendigo today still recall what it was like to face discrimination under the law.

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"It is wonderful they can be their authentic selves and celebrate who they are, alongside their community."

Mr Richards said the event was a perfect opportunity for all Bendigonians to celebrate our diverse community.

"We pay our respects to those who fought long and hard for equality, and acknowledge that there is still work to be done for sexuality, sex- and gender-diverse people to live free from all prejudice," he said.

The 2020 festival was to be the city's second Pride Festival, an event to celebrate the LGBTIQA+ community and promote diversity and inclusion.

Instead, it was one of the first events to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Other highlights of the festival include: markets and community stalls, trans clothing swap at the Town Hall, Bendigo Queer Film Festival short film screenings, queer reading nook and LGBTQIA+ literature and history exhibition at the Bendigo Library, headspace diversity group art exhibition, and a display of the AIDS Quilt from Thorne Harbour Country.

Pop Up Pride Bendigo is supported by the Victorian Government as part of the Melbourne Pride initiative, marking 40 years of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Victoria.

People can stay up to date with the latest announcements at facebook.com/bendigopridefestival/

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