Week-long Pride festival announced in Wellington

Wellington Pride Parade | Tū whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-a-Tara

2016’s Out in the Park will, for the first time, be expanding into a week-long festival of events.

“2016 is a big year for the LGBTQI+ community as we are also celebrating 30 years since the introduction of the Homosexual Law Reform Act,” say Out in the Park co-chairs Adrienne Girling and Karen Harris.

“Historically the Fair was set up to build support for Homosexual Law Reform and what better way to celebrate the Fair’s 30th anniversary than with a week-long programme of events!”

The festival will take place 5-13 March and the flamboyant (as always) Parade will kick off our well-loved Out in the Park Fair on March 12. The Parade will take place for the first time along the waterfront and will lead many participants and entertainers to the Fair’s opening ceremony in Waitangi Park.

“We are proud to be able to say in addition to the Fair being (possibly) the longest-running rainbow community event in Aotearoa, next year’s event is shaping up to be the largest rainbow event in Wellington,” say Adrienne and Karen.

“We are thrilled to welcome back Wellington’s own drag artiste Pollyfilla (aka Colin McLean) from Melbourne to entertain and dazzle the crowds.”

Out in the Park is Wellington’s famous annual queer Fair. Running since 1986, the Fair is famous for its free entertainment, with talented local singers, drag queens and kinds, comedians, and circus performers taking the stage. It is a chance to celebrate community diversity with family and friends and everyone is welcome.

The Festival will take place in various venues around Wellington throughout the week. Most festival events will be free. The Parade will be led by significant figures from Wellington’s queer community history. The Fair after-party, 1986, will take place in Club Ivy and James Smith Basement in Cuba Street.

Festival, Parade, and Fair details can be found at http://outinthepark.co.nz

ENDS

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