Wellington raises a beer for Pride Festival

The capital celebrates community diversity this week with the return of the annual Wellington Pride Festival | Tū Whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara, a two week long festival celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community in Wellington.

The much-loved ‘Out in the Park’ queer fair will open the festival on 24th February, and this year festival organisers bring Wellington’s love of craft beer to the celebrations, working with local brewery Kakariki Beer Co, brewing a ‘pale ale for the people’ to warm festivities, and raise money for Out Wellington, the non-profit organisation that runs the festival.

Brewer/Owner Simon Cooke says "Pride is the brightest time of the year, when we come together and celebrate our beautiful rainbow community. A time to acknowledge where we've come from, where we are now, and how we envision the future of rainbow inclusion and representation in Aotearoa. It's an honour to brew this beer in support of this fabulous festival."

Kakariki’s ‘Pride Beer’ is a bright and fruity pale ale featuring a trio of NZ hops and Canterbury malts, and is available on tap and in bottles at supporting bars and liquor outlets around NZ.

Out in the Park is in its 32nd year, and is famous for its free entertainment, with talented local performers, including drag kings and queens, singers, dancers, and comedians, and is celebrated for its community atmosphere.

The Wellington Pride Festival | Tū Whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara showcases a great variety of events organised by groups within the community. The rainbow community encompasses lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, takatāpui, fa’afafine, intersex, queer, and all other gender and sexual minorities.

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