Celebrating pride in Paekā kā riki
The Paekākāriki Pride Festival, the district’s leading LGBTTQIA+ celebration, and is back bigger, better and more fabulous than ever with five days of events to celebrate turning five.
“The need to support whanau and the community in staying safe from Covid meant last year’s traditional week of festivities was replaced by a pop-up vaccination event,” coorganiser Val Little said. “But this year we’re turning five, and just as if we were a person, we’d be starting school, we’re back with a truly intergenerational week of events for the entire community.
There really is something for everybody this year from dances for all ages, the ever-popular meet and greet and quiz, a special theatre production Man Lessons, and of course arguably the world’s shortest Pride Parade.
In addition to Man Lessons, one of the highlight of this year is a concert at St Peter’s Hall featuring 92-year-old harmonica virtuoso Coral Trimmer. Coral lived in the closet from the 1940s before coming out at the age of 86 and getting married this year for the first time. . She is renowned for her high-kicking, high energy, performances, getting people up on their feet and bringing the house down.”
“Pride week is designed as a celebration of our trans, takatāpui, bisexual, asexual, multisexual, lesbian, gay + community with events where everybody can feel comfortable and be themselves. It’s also a great week of events for the community’s many straight allies,” added co-organiser Pat McIntosh.
The schedule:
■ Thursday Oct 20 — Man Lessons theatre piece, St Peter’s Hall from 7 pm
■ Friday Oct 21 — Meet and Mingle at Finns Hotel from 7pm
■ Saturday Oct 22 — Rainbow Gala, Paekakariki School 10am to 1pm
■ Saturday Oct 22 — Pride Parade Campbell Park at 3pm
■ Saturday Oct 22 — Kids’ disco, St Peter’s Hall 4 to 5pm
■ Saturday Oct 22 — Dance Party, St Peter’s Hall from 7 to 11pm
■ Sunday Oct 23 — Joyful and Defiant Pride Concert, St Peter’s Hall from 4 to 6pm
■ Sunday Oct 23 — Quiz Night, Finns Hotel from 7.30pm
■ Monday Oct 24 — Plunge for Pride swim, Paekakariki Surf Club from noon
■ Monday Oct 24 — Picnic and Pride Puppies dog show, Campbell Park from 1pm.