Auckland's 18th Hero Festival will feature many much-loved returning events - plus several exciting new ones - all painting the City of Sails pink! Here's a glimpse at what's on offer through 1-24 February. RETURNING FAVOURITES Where else but Auckland's gayest nightclub for the 2008 HERO Festival Launch on Friday 1 February? This get-together is a great way to meet the HERO team, learn about what's in store for the fun few weeks, and enjoy cocktails and shows. Join them at Family (270 Karagahape Road) from 6.30pm. Slap on your sunscreen and fill your picnic basket with goodies - the Big Gay Out in Pt. Chev's Coyle Park is back and bigger than ever in 2008! There'll be non-stop entertainment on the main stage from Midday until 7pm on Sunday 10 February, along with more music tents, community stalls and food - plus GayNZ.com's all-new Fun Fair! This year, to avoid the nightmare of parking and traffic jams, look out for the free bus going along Pt Chevalier Road from 11.30am to 7.30pm on the day. Check out the official map, stage timetable and more news here at GayNZ.com's online home of the Big Gay Out. And don't forget, this year's Big Gay Out recovery party is at Fluffy (309 K' Road) from 7pm until Midnight. Raunchy new movie Lady Chatterley's Lover - not a film you would want to take your mother to see - is the HERO Film Premiere for '08, on at the Rialto Cinema in Newmarket at 8pm on Tuesday 12 February. The popular HERO Tenpin Bowling event hosted by Auckland's Gay Bowling Organisation will be on at Takapuna's Tenpin Bowling Centre on Wednesday 13 February, and the Hero Tennis Tournament is held on Friday evening 22 February at the West End Tennis Club. Plus, Flirt night for girls Hero special party will be upstairs at Bacio (309 K' Road) on Saturday 16 February from 10pm. The Fifth Annual Great Auckland Central Hero Debate sees the usual variety of MP's and well-known witty speakers take on a topic… this year's moot is "That love will draw an elephant through a key-hole". Well if nothing else it's a chance for the two teams to insult each other for the audience's amusement! The Debate is always a hilarious and memorable evening out - catch it at the Opera Factory in Newmarket from 6pm on Monday 18 February. Last year's women's event It's a D Thing was a festival highlight - and now D. Thing returns to take you on a kinky cruise through the exotic East. Dance with the passion of a Bollywood babe, take tea and flirt in the Herkiss Delight harem bar and then book yourself into the Up-Si-Daisy Love Hotel. Unmissable art, performances, videos, music and bars - it's all on 2-3 February at MARCO Gallery (47 New North Road). Take a summer afternoon stroll through some of Auckland's best kept gardens, where no weed is left standing and no shrub is unsculptured! Get gardening tips and inspiration while supporting a good causes - charities for those affected by HIV/AIDS. The Heroic Gardens tour is happening on the weekend of 16 2nd hand Jap car - it's a recipe for coming-of-age adventure, Friday 8 February to Saturday 1 March at the Herald Theatre. Experience Tim Fountain as Quentin Crisp in one-man show Resident Alien - he shares details of his stylish life as an overt, effeminate, gay man through almost the entire 20th century in London and New York (13-23 February at TAPAC, Motions Road, Western Springs). And because love can be found in the most unlikely of places - Beautiful Thing will lift you heart with a story of young gay romance - catch it at Westpoint Performing Arts Centre (MOTAT 2, Motions Road, Western Springs) 14-22 February. There's lots organised for our Sapphic women this year… Lesbians and their friends will celebrate a little away from the CBD, as Heroes and Friends get together for a Valentine's Day soirée in The Falls, Handerson from 4pm on 14 February, featuring gorgeous food, fantastic music and entertainment, all set amongst the greenery of the Falls Hotel. The Charlotte Museum's Grand Opening is at 4pm on Sunday 17 February (Unit 6, Level 2, 58 Surrey Cres, Grey Lynn), and an evening of Coming Out Stories will be held there from 5:30pm on Thursday 21 Feb, plus reminisce with Remember that Lezzie Tune from 5:30pm on Friday 22 Feb - finger food, 'clitials' and wine will be served. And Satellite Gallery's art exhibition Pussy Got Your Tongue (at 136a Newton Road from 5:30pm on Tuesday 19 Feb) explores the multiplicity of lesbian visual experience, by saying "we are lesbian artists who are not afraid to get stuck tongue in groove!" The lovely old Civic Theatre will not only be home to the Hero Party, but also the gay/straight crossover movie event of the year - Sing-a-long-a Sound of Music! Take the whole family along to enjoy the classic Julie Andrews film - complete with subtitles so everyone can sing along. You'll get a complimentary 'Magic Moments Pack' containing various props to be used at strategic points through the film, and everyone who has come in costume is invited onto the stage to show off their fantastic tailoring skills. The hills will certainly be alive with the Sound of Music on Thursday 21 Feb! It's your Hero Festival - get in amongst it! Full event details are on the official Hero Festival website at the link below, and the glossy official Festival booklet will be available to pick up from your favourite LGBT venues from next week. HAPPY HERO! Matt Akersten - 19th January 2008