After a huge night of dancing at URGE on Saturday, Christchurch Pride weekend isn’t slowing down just yet.
Instead, the celebrations roll straight into Sunday afternoon with the official URGE afterparty – Sunday Sessions – taking over the courtyard at Smash Palace on 15 March from 3pm.
Organiser Craig Browning says the idea is simple: give people a relaxed space to reconnect after the big night.
“Sometimes the best cure for a big night is getting back out with friends for a relaxed Sunday afternoon,” he says.
“Sunday Sessions is all about good music, good people, and a welcoming vibe. After a big night at URGE, it’s the perfect place to regroup, share stories from the weekend, and keep the Pride celebrations going.”
From a casual catch-up to a courtyard takeover
What started as a small social catch-up between friends has quickly grown into something much bigger.
Sunday Sessions launched in September 2024, when Browning and a friend decided Christchurch needed something a little different on a Sunday afternoon.
“It began very casually by inviting a few friends along for drinks and music,” he says.
“But it quickly grew from there.”
Now the events regularly draw large crowds — sometimes filling the entire Smash Palace courtyard.
“When I first floated the idea to Anna, the owner of Smash Palace, she was on board straight away, which really helped bring it to life,” Browning says.
Over time, the venue has become something of an unofficial gathering spot for Christchurch’s queer community.
A different kind of party
Unlike the high-energy club nights URGE is known for, Sunday Sessions has a more relaxed feel.
Think house, disco and feel-good tunes, drinks with friends, and an easygoing afternoon vibe.
“It’s not about the big club scene,” Browning says.
“It’s a social catch-up for friends and the queer community, with a chill vibe, good music, and a few drinks in hand.”
The events usually run every four to six weeks, giving locals something regular to look forward to at the end of the weekend.
Building community in Christchurch
Browning has been back living in Christchurch for more than a decade and says the idea for Sunday Sessions came from noticing a gap in the city’s social scene.
“I’d been back in Christchurch for about 11 years and noticed there wasn’t really a relaxed, queer-focused social event happening on Sundays.”
Sunday Sessions was designed to fill that space — somewhere people could connect without it needing to be a late-night club event.
The concept has already found its audience, and Browning hopes it continues to grow.
“Sunday Sessions is already becoming a regular fixture in the city’s social calendar,” he says.
Through Q Events, he’s also planning more creative gatherings throughout the year aimed at keeping Christchurch’s queer community connected.
The Pride weekend wind-down
This weekend’s edition — tied to URGE’s Christchurch Pride party — is expected to be one of the biggest yet.
With DJ Skew-Whiff on the decks, drinks flowing and Smash Palace’s courtyard filling up, Browning says the aim is simple: keep the Pride energy alive.
So if you wake up on Sunday wondering whether to stay under the duvet, Browning has a message.
“The best cure for a big night is getting back out with friends.”
