Come on, Christchurch, it’s our turn! Last Sunday, a rainbow-hued crowd of 50,000 people made their way across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in a Pride march that marked the 45^th anniversary of Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

This Friday you can add your colours to Christchurch Pride’s Walk for Support, which will gather on Cashel Street outside Ballantynes at 5pm and head towards the Bridge of Remembrance, where this year’s Pride festivities will kick off with shows and performances.

The walk is a celebration of inclusivity, visibility, representation and the togetherness of the diverse groups that make up the community that is gay Christchurch.

Expect to see some colourfully clad skaters weaving through the crowd. Pride Skate begins at Hagley Netball Courts at 5pm before snaking up to Cashel Street to meet the Pride Walk.

The night is then young. The week-long Pride programme kicks on to Riverside Market, which will be renamed RiverPRIDE for the duration. Expect more performances at this family-friendly event.

Christchurch Pride runs from this Friday to Sunday, 19 March. It might not have Sydney’s numbers but it has everything else! The programme is chocker with free and paid events ranging from queer magic, tramping trips, picnics, films and quiz nights to the ever popular Christchurch Pride Bingo, which has been going for over 10 years now.

There’s even an event for a person’s best friend. Join the fabulous Little Miss Cinnamon as she leads the way on the Christchurch Pride & Rollickin Gelato Dog Walk in Cashel Street on Sunday 12 March at 5pm.There’s free scoops of WOOF WOOF gelato and giveaways for the best-dressed pooches.

Tūranga, our central-city library, has joined the party with an extensive programme of events.

For those still standing at week’s end, there is a Closing Party on 18 March at Muy Muy (formerly Welles St) in the heart of the city.

Christchurch Pride, 10 – 19 March, various venues citywide.
chchpride.co.nz