Postponed Whanganui Pride Week events back on this weekend

The Pride Walk will go ahead come "rain, hail or shine" this weekend. Photo / Neil Jones

Whanganui Pride Week opened at the end of February and now, two months later, its final two events are all set to go.

Covid-19 restrictions forced the postponement of the Pride Party and Pride Walk, the latter being Pride Whanganui trustee Christina Emery's favourite event of them all.

"That's mainly because you can see the transition through the years we've been doing it," Emery said.

"People who came the first year and hid behind the trees joined in the next year, then they wore flags the next year, and they could be leading the parade this year.

"The other major thing about the walk is it's the one event where people outside the rainbow community come in droves just to show support, whether it's workplaces, organisations, whānau or just random people who are there at the time saying 'hell yeah, I want to be a part of this'."

Emery said Saturday's walk would go ahead "rain, hail or shine", and she hoped around 400 people would join her.

Walkers will meet at the Bearing sculpture (silver ball) near the Whanganui River Traders Market at 9.45am, and leave at 10am for a lap around the bridges after a speech from Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall.

"Put your raincoats on, put your swimsuits on if you have to, we're walking," Emery said.

"In all honesty, if I got two people walking with me around the bridges, I'd still be as excited as if I got 2000.

"It's not about the numbers, it's just about connecting with one person, two people, making someone's life a little easier by feeling included."

Miss Ribena (right) will host the Pride Party on Saturday night. Photo / Supplied

As for the Pride Party at Stellar Bar on Saturday evening, Emery said it was a place to "be who you want to be and wear what you want to wear".

"If you want a face full of makeup and a big old wig, then this is the place to do it. If you just want to wear what you usually do to the pub, that's cool too.

"It's an opportunity to know you're not going to be judged for the way you dance, the way you look and the way you have fun."

Emery said the doors open at 6pm and entertainment would start at 7pm.

"We will be closing at midnight because of Anzac Day on Sunday, so when I say 7pm, [the event's] gonna start at 7pm.

"A lot can be achieved in five hours though."

Despite the postponements, Emery said this year's Whanganui Pride Week had been a huge success.

In fact, the two-month delay between the start and end may have even helped.

"We've had two months of constant publicity, and two months of engagement with the community which we would never get otherwise.

"We've seen everything grow, from our online products and social media to engagement from businesses and schools.

"People are starting to come to us now, instead of us having to go to them.

"It's humbling to be a part of those conversations."