The Best Things to See and Do During Auckland Pride Festival

If you're in and around Auckland this February, then you can't miss the Auckland Pride Festival. From the 1st to 16th, Auckland's rainbow communities will come together to celebrate all things pride and the city's unique mix of cultures, ethnicities, sexualities and gender identities. Now in its eighth year, the Festival has become a true phenomenon and has a two-week calendar filled with well-organised and unique events. Of course, there's the march itself, the penultimate event of the festival and always a great afternoon full of joy as Auckland celebrates its rainbow citizens. For 2020, the organisers have put together a range of events in and around the march to help Aucklanders get involved and learn, celebrate and express their pride in different ways. 

GET READY TO MARCH

Looking to get more involved in the March this year? Get Ready To March is a great way to get started. Presented by Auckland Pride and hosted by Studio One Toi Tu, this free event is a space for all to gather and create. Share your creativity with like-minded others and craft expressions of your own pride ahead of the march. While some basic materials will be supplied, it's recommended that attendees bring materials along for costumes, banners and flags. Held on Sunday, 2 February, get involved and express your pride.

PICNIC AND POLITICS

Looking for a mix of politics and Pride? The Green Party of Aotearoa NZ has you sorted. Join Jan Logie and Marama Davidson on Saturday, 8 February for Picnic and Politics at Albert Park. Bring your supplies and questions that you have for the MPs. A casual picnic in the park, all questions, big and small, are welcome. Right before the march, everyone will head down to join in at around 4pm.

OUR PARTY

What better way to start the Festival than with the official opening party? Held in the heart of the city at Aotea Square, this party promises to be a full-scale extravaganza celebrating Tāmaki Makaurau's rainbow communities with queer artists, musicians, and food trucks. It kicks off from 6pm following the march on Saturday, 8 February.

GAYMES NIGHT

A free event for all, Gaymes Night is held across the month on a variety of dates and venues. For those looking for a fun event outside of the city, this is the ideal situation. Auckland Pride Festivals calls for all Board Gaymers to meet up with their favourite games — big and small. Sure to be a fun day full of competition, laughs, triumphs and defeats, lock in your local date before you miss it. 

LIFE DRAWING

This life drawing session is sure to bring out your inner artist in a fun and creative environment. For all ranges of skill, beginners will be given guidance and those with more expertise will be left to do their own thing. For each one-off session, the model will be working with a range of camp and quirky props. Events are being held at both Te Atatū Peninsula Community Centre and Onehunga Community Centre. 

SILO CINEMA PRIDE EDITION

Auckland's Silo Cinema is getting a colourful LGBT+ focused revamp for the Festival. Thanks to QUEER AF and Silo Park, Friday, 7 February will see a Pride edition of the free outdoor cinema and adjoining markets. Enjoy a free screening of award-winning Elton John biopic Rocketman, with pre-movie entertainment, food trucks, DJs, the Queers and Wares markets, and a special live performance by COVEN. Bring something warm as it can get chilly, along with a comfortable picnic blanket or cushion to sit on.

HANNAH GADSBY: DOUGLAS

Following her international smash-hit show, Nanette, beloved Aussie comedian Hannah Gadsby's is returning to the stage with her latest work, Douglas, named after her own pet pooch. While Nanette pulled apart the concept of comedy itself, dishing up an insight into Gadsby's past, Douglas promises to deliver a serve of "very new ideas", collected during her recent travels around the planet. This show will mark Gadsby's first-ever US tour, though she'll be heading Down Under early 2020 with a performance at Auckland's Civic Theatre on 1 February.

CELEBRATE WITH PRIDE: OFFICIAL AFTER PARTY

After the march, celebrate with the Auckland rainbow community as Staircase hosts the official after party. Easily located just a short walk from Aotea Square, Celebrate with Pride is hosted by the indomitable Rani Kumari. Pick up where the march leaves off — the party starts at 10pm but doors will be open well before that. Keep an eye on the event page for lineup announcements and keep the night free for what's sure to be the best party and biggest night of the festival.

UENUKU — PRIDE AT AUCKLAND MUSEUM

This panel discussion on Monday, 10 February presented by the Auckland War Memorial Museum celebrates the laws passed that protect and shape our rainbow communities. Moderated by Thomas Sainsbury and featuring panellists Louisa Wall, Welby Ings, Ngahuia Te Awekotuku and Tanu Gago, it will take a critical look at the state of LGBT+ rights in New Zealand and around the world. After the panel, stay to watch Welby Ings' Sparrow, a poignant short film telling the story of a small boy who is teased because he thinks he can fly.  

Julia Franchino Dubor.

ENDING HIV BIG GAY OUT: 21ST BIRTHDAY

Big Gay Out is Auckland's biggest celebration of rainbow diversity, attracting more than 10,000 for a day full of music, food, dance and colour. This year it's turning the ripe old age of 21 and is celebrating with a stacked lineup of international and local performers, including Courtney Act, Fourtunes, Half Queen and Randa. The festival will also welcome more than 100 stalls featuring locally produced products and food.

AUCKLAND ART GALLERY TOI O TAMAKI: PRIDE CELEBRATION 2020

Head to the Auckland Art Gallery on Sunday, 15 February to enjoy two free events in celebration of the 2020 Auckland Pride Festival. At 1.30pm, be mesmerised by the dulcet tones of the Gay and Lesbian Singers — the GALS Choir — in the Lower Grey Gallery. Then, at 3pm, peruse art from diverse perspectives on a tour presented by an artist, gallerist, art collector and curator. This free tour will be held in the Mackelvie Gallery and will celebrate diversity by introducing the past alongside contemporary perspectives of gender, sexuality and representation.