Changes to the Auckland Pride parade and party will see the party at a new venue with a new name, and the parade time and direction have also been altered. In a change from the past two years the party has left the Victoria Market site and headed up the hill to Karangahape Road. Previously called the Proud party it will now be known more simply as the Pride party. Another change is that the party will be run directly after the Saturday February 20thAuckland Pride Parade - which has itself been rejigged to start at the earlier time of 6pm and will process north to south along Ponsonby Road, starting at Three Lamps and ending at Western Park. Booked into the Studio on K Rd, just along the street from Family, the Pride party will feature a Bear Zone, a Women’s Zone, a chill out space, ten DJs and, at 1am, a "spectacular" stage show. Party organisers Family Bar say they have lined up Melbourne DJ Heylenise, a stalwart of Gay Ski Week QT, to kick the event off. “Changing Proud to ride ties into the celebration of the LGBTIQ community of the Pride Parade, the result is a continuation of the parade celebration where all participants can celebrate the success of the Parade at Western Park before heading to K Rd to party into the night,” according to Vinnie Sykes and Kirsten Sibbit, co-chairs of the Auckland Pride Festival board.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 16th December 2015 - 11:17am