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Full to the Brim! This February will see Auckland Pride Month hosting over 200 events in all corners of Tāmaki Makaurau.

With its largest programme ever, Auckland Pride says they have added over 150 events, showcasing the diversity and excitement of the city’s rainbow communities to come together to celebrate and fight for progress.

Speaking with express, Director of Auckland Pride Max Tweedie explained his excitement for the month-long festival. “If you’d told me a few months ago that we’d be releasing the largest programme in our history – I don’t know if I’d believe you.”

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“It’s been an incredible effort by our community to build a programme of 203 events across February and across Tāmaki Makaurau, and we just feel incredibly lucky to be able to do it.”

“The largest programme in our history”

“From Caribbean Carnivals, the Pasifika FINE Festival, Ngā Hinepūkōrero on Waitangi Day, three vogue balls, dance parties, shows across the Aotea Arts Precinct, the China Pride Festival, RainbowYOUTH’s 11 events, and a total of 172 free community events across Tāmaki Makaurau – our festival embodies a call to our communities to come together to celebrate who we are and fight for progress,” he adds.

Featuring an eclectic array of performances, exhibitions, film and literature, talks and workshops, sports contests, youth and community events, parties, and much more. Embracing the unique mix of cultures, sexualities, and gender identities of Aotearoa’s diverse LGBTQIA+ communities, organisers say the festival offers the chance for all to respond with their calls of activism, celebration, inclusivity, and representation during the largest Pride Festival in Aotearoa’s history.

Among some of the highlights of the full multi-genre programme are new shows added to the programmes at Basement Theatre and Q Theatre. Auckland Live has also added a series of shows at the Civic Wintergarden, ensuring that the Aotea Arts Precinct will be alive with Pride this February.

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki plays host to a series of family-friendly events, with performances and workshops happening across the Pride programme. And Auckland based rainbow focused charities RainbowYOUTH and OUTLine have curated a series of 11 events aimed at bringing their communities together with talks, activities, events, and more!
 


Auckland Pride Festival 2021 by the numbers:

●    203 registered events 
●    85% (172) events are free or koha entry
●    Over 65 venues region-wide
●    116 events as part of Auckland Council’s Proud Centres, all free or koha entry
●    39 theatre, comedy, and performance art shows
●    47 talks and workshops
●    24 events funded by the Pride & Spark Empowerment Initiative
●    17 drag shows and vogue balls
●    7 events at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
●    7 events in the China Pride Festival
●    11 events in the Same Same but Different Literary Festival


Tweedie also adds, “We’re stoked to be able to activate all of Auckland and paint it rainbow thanks to the support of our Government Partners NZ Major Events and Auckland Unlimited, as well as working with the Government COVID-19 Response team to Make Pride Unstoppable.”

“The collaborations across Pride from our artists, event organisers, partners, stakeholders, and community is what makes the first Pride Month so special, and we can’t wait until the 3rd of February to get us started.”

Auckland Pride are encouraging the community to scan in with the provided QR codes at every individual Auckland Pride event and utilise the free registration service on Eventbrite to assist with contact tracing. Auckland Pride has also released its full COVID-19 Plan here.

View the full programme for Auckland Pride Month 2021 here! 

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