As Auckland’s Pride Festival hurtles toward its finale weekend, moves are already being made to ensure it will return in 2014. Pride Fest Trust co-chairs Megan Cunningham-Adams and Gresham Bradley Auckland Pride Festival Trust co-chair Gresham Bradley has confirmed a funding application has gone in to Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED), which allowed the inaugural festival to happen thanks to $100,000 in funding. Auckland’s Mayor Len Brown has already pledged his support for the Festival continuing. There are still a number of events remaining in the 2013 Pride Festival, most notably the closing Proud danced on Saturday night which tickets are selling quickly to. The venue holds 1,200 people. Tickets are $45 and are available from Marvel Menswear, The Women’s Bookshop, Urge Bar and Real Groovy or can be bought online here Today the Auckland Pride Tennis Tournament is being held at the West End Tennis Club in Westmere from 6PM. After Lilburn, a concert curated by the 2013 Mozart Fellow Samuel Holloway, will celebrate the contribution of queer composers to New Zealand’s musical culture from 8PM at the School of Music. The Heroic Gardens Festival is back under the Pride umbrella this year, and runs on both Saturday and Sunday in 24 gardens across Auckland. On Sunday the pooches will get their chance to strut their stuff at Doggy Style, a dog show like no other at Owairaka Domain from 2PM. Categories include Best Butch Dog, Best Femme, Best Dressed, Best Dog/Owner Look-a-like and Best Tricks. Entry is $5 per dog. On Sunday night the L Dance will be held at the Grey Lynn Community Centre from 5PM, celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Lesbian Elders Village project. Tickets are $10 from the Women’s Booskshop. Buffy and Bimbo will host Bingo with Balls at Grace Bar, from 6PM. Special prize for the best dressed balls! Find more on all the events here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 22nd February 2013 - 11:10am