It's a wrap
What a wonderful Labour Weekend we had with A Rainbow in the Village - Paekakariki Pride Festival 2018! So much colour, fun, awhi, support and love. Love for diversity, love for our village, love for our next generations.
None of this happens by itself and there are so many people, community groups and businesses to thank. So here goes...
Firstly, thanks to the Tangata Whenua of Paekakariki for holding and blessing the people and kaupapa of the festival. A special thanks to Karl and Beryl Farrell and whanau for your kind words and awhi.
A big thanks to the wonderful organising crew - Chrissi Johnson, Danielle Burns, Anna-Maria O'Brien, Sylvia Bagnell, Tai Hartley-Parsons, Martine Hartley-Parsons, Ash Vivier, Frances Krsinich, Vanessa Crowe.
Thanks to the sponsors and businesses who donated their time, product and prizes for our events: Paekakariki General Store, Finn's Bar and Restaurant, The Perching Parrot, Beach Road Deli, Input Cafe, Alan Wehipeihana Studio and Gallery, North End Brewery, Elemental Eats, Zayaz Kebabs, Pedros Foodtruck, Paekakariki Pops, Kapiti Chocolate Factory, Unity Books, S n M's Cocktail Bar.
To the wonderful community groups and individuals that supported the festival by hosting, promoting and holding events - a huge heartfelt thank you - Paul Callister - Nga Uruora Kapiti Project, Jan Nisbet - The Bike Library, Paekakariki Library, Paekakariki 88.2FM, Paekakariki Surf Club, Mukume Taiko Drummers, St Peter's Village Hall, Steve - Paekakariki Bowling Club, Paekakariki School, Paulee - Paekakariki Football Club, Rik the Most - Spoken Word Artist and Prue Hyman.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to the volunteers who helped in any and every way by marshalling the Parade, decorating and/or cleaning up the venues, dropping off and picking up people/food/things, taking photos and all the other tasks needed to run this festival smoothly.
We're so proud to be able to pass on the proceeds of this festival to the wonderful folks at Project Youth - a social and support group for LGBTIQ++ and Takatapui young people run out of Kapiti Youth Support (KYS).
Finally, thanks to everyone who dressed up, turned up, came out and enjoyed a spectacular weekend of love and pride.
Much love
Val and Pat
Vinyl & Proud
2018 Little Paekakariki Pride Festival Bigger Than Ever
If you’re in Paekakariki over Labour Weekend you are guaranteed to see a multitude of rainbows in the village. A Rainbow in the Village – Paekakariki Pride Festival is back for its second year and it has grown bigger and more colourful.
“Paekakariki Pride Festival is two years old and, like a toddler, it’s toilet trained but has GONE WILD!” – says Val Little, one of the organisers.
This year the organisers have stepped up the festival in response to requests for more family-friendly activities and a wider range of events to keep everybody happy, engaged, busy, and most importantly, connected. “Whether you're into physical, social, creative, laid-back, competitive, dress-up, quiet or LOUD & PROUD activities - there's something for everyone”, says Little.
A Queer Quiz, a picnic, walks along the Escarpment, drag football and an icy plunge in the sea are among over a dozen activities on offer. Seven of the activities are free or entry by koha. The festival serves several purposes – to raise funds for a local LGBTQI+ and Takatapui social and support service for young people in Kapiti run through Kapiti Youth Service (KYS) and to promote some of the community groups and businesses in the village.
Paekakariki is a progressive, diverse, civic-minded community which makes it the perfect place to stage events like Pride. It boasts its own community radio station with over 30 different shows run entirely by volunteers of all ages and musical tastes, a housing trust which advocates for and supports people in hardship to retain or gain housing, a vibrant early childhood education community, conservation groups, a bike library and many other groups designed to connect people and tackle some of the tough social issues.
For
further information and updates check out the Facebook page - Rainbow in the Village – Paekakariki
Pride Festival 2018 - https://www.facebook.com/PaekakarikiPride/