Planning for 2008's HERO Festival is well under way, with several regular events scheduled and Auckland's LGBT organisations now invited to add their event to the calendar. Fun in the sun at Big Gay Out '07 Auckland's 2008 HERO Festival will be a celebration of our communities, running for a three week period from 1 - 24 February, says the new HERO Brand Management Group (BMG). "We are in full build-up mode now to the festival," says HERO Trust Chairman Frederic Guillemont. "The BMG is all systems go and already we have a number of organisations asking to run events. "We have a list of regular events for the public to enjoy including the Big Gay Out, the OUTLine NZ Tennis tournament and the HERO party." Due to planning and scheduling difficulties, the Wigs on the Waterfront day of drag shows at the Viaduct Harbour will not be a feature of the 2008 HERO Festival, and Guillemont confirms the HERO Parade not will return this February either. "We have had a number of emails asking if there is to be a parade in 2008 and I can confirm that there will not be a parade in 2008," he says. "We have not yet received any concrete proposals for a parade in 2008, but the HERO Trust is already working on different possibilities to include a parade or similar event in the forthcoming HERO Festivals - especially for the 20th anniversary in 2010." LGBT organisations are now invited to come forward with their ideas for running an event during HERO 2008. "Either as a fundraising event or an event to raise awareness of their goods or services,” says Guillemont. "The more the merrier and a greater success it will be. Don't forget HERO Festival is our celebration!" Organisations interested in running and event can visit the HERO website on the link below for an information and application pack.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Tuesday, 20th November 2007 - 1:32pm