Wellington Pride Parade

Overview

Wellington, get ready to mark your calendars because May 11 is the night you'll want to be ready for. The Wellington Pride Parade is back for the third year in a row — bigger, better, completely accessible, but still hosted by the fabulous Felicity Frockaccino — this is not going to be an event you'll want to miss. Get ready Wellington — the theme this year is fire.

Your inclusive party night will begin with family-friendly, pre-performance entertainment from the Royal NZ Ballet, Te Auaha Institute of Creativity, Orchestra Wellington and local and international drag performers. Invited dignitaries, including Mayor Justin Lester and Wellington Central MP Grant Robertson, will cut the official ribbon.

Starting at the earlier time of 3pm, the parade begins at Tennyson Street. Wellington's finest drag queens will be out to greet parade entrants from a pop-up stage on the corner of Cambridge Terrace and Courtenay Place. Turning onto Taranaki Street to the Wellington Waterfront the parade entrants will be greeted by a huge screen, streaming live coverage of the parade. Expect to see reporters galore.

If you're not part of the parade this year but still want to watch, spectators can line the streets and join in the celebrations — let's have a party, Wellington. There'll be walking groups, floats, marching groups, even Dykes on Bikes celebrating inclusion and diversity. And afterwards? There'll be a DJ playing some sweet tunes till the early evening – just follow the parade to the waterfront.