Edinburgh venue Gilded Balloon has unveiled a new charity partner for Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024, joining forces with Scottish charity Waverley Care this August for their legendary Pink Wednesday event. The new partnership will see Gilded Balloon raise vital funds for Waverley Care throughout the month and specifically on 2024’s Pink Wednesday (7th August) - a fun-filled day of ticket discounts, fancy dress and competitions in aid of charity.
Gilded Balloon will host Waverley Care, Scotland’s leading HIV and hepatitis C charity at both of their Fringe venues this year - Patter House and the National Museum of Scotland. Founded in 1989 in response to the HIV epidemic in Edinburgh, the charity now focuses on ending new HIV transmission in Scotland by 2030, while continuing to support people and communities affected by HIV, hepatitis C and sexual health inequalities.
As one of Edinburgh Fringe’s original venues, Gilded Balloon created Pink Wednesday in 2018 to combat ‘Black Wednesday’ - a day traditionally known for slower ticket sales across the Festival. The 24 hour event will see £5 ticket deals on some of Gilded Balloon’s biggest shows for one day only, with a percentage of ticket sales donated directly to Waverley Care. Acts, customers and staff will join in the fun by dressing in pink for the day, collecting charity donations throughout both venues.
Plus, customers can donate to Waverley Care all throughout August via QR codes in Patter House and the National Museum of Scotland.
Renowned for their pink venues which take over Edinburgh in August, Gilded Balloon’s Pink Wednesday will see £5 tickets on sale from venue box offices and Gilded Balloon’s website on the day for huge comedy shows including Jack Docherty in The Chief - No Apologies, Grace Campbell Is On Heat, Chris Hall: Girl For All Seasons, Joshua Bethania: Coming Home, Late’n’Live and many more. Families can bag a bargain whilst supporting charity, seeing shows including Hypnotist Matt Hale!, Wood Owl and the Box Of Wonders and Lost in the Woods, or enjoy £5 tickets for some of the Fringe’s best magicians like Martin Brock, Caspar Thomas and Cameron Young.
Katy and Karen Koren, Artistic Directors of Gilded Balloon said, “We’re thrilled to be working with Waverley Care as our new charity partner for 2024 and can’t wait to welcome their staff to our venues on Pink Wednesday for a day of pink-fuelled ticket discounts in aid of a really important cause.
“Waverley Care has been at the forefront of vital work for those affected by HIV and hepatitis on a national level for over 35 years and we’re delighted to lend our support to them for the whole month of August. It’s always fantastic to see our acts, staff and customers join in the fun and support a new charity every year, whilst enjoying some of the very best shows at the Fringe for only £5 - don your best pink outfits and we’ll see you there!”
Siobhan Cameron, Fundraising Officer at Waverley Care, said, ”Waverley Care are thrilled to be chosen as Gilded Balloon's charity partner this Edinburgh Festival Fringe. We are so excited to be working with one of Scotland's leading entertainment venues, reaching more audiences than ever before with our #GetToZero message, and raising vital funds to support anyone affected by HIV or hep C in Scotland.”
Waverley Care is Scotland’s leading HIV and hepatitis C charity, and everything they do is guided by the experiences of the people they work with – this ranges from shaping the services they deliver through to how they influence national policy around sexual health and blood-borne viruses (BBVs). Waverley Care’s vision is a Scotland where anyone living with or at risk of HIV can expect to be treated with acceptance, support and respect. Find out more information and support Waverley Care - www.waverleycare.org
Acts across Gilded Balloon’s jam-packed Fringe roster will take part in discounted tickets for one day only on Pink Wednesday, with a percentage of ticket sales donated to Waverley Care. With over 130 shows across two venues including Patter House and the National Museum of Scotland, Gilded Balloon’s programme covers comedy, theatre, magic, kids shows and much more.
Tickets on sale now via www.tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk
