Whanganui women’s festival La Fiesta returns for 17th year

Participants dressed up for an old-school aerobics session run by Her Fitness gym during last year's La Fiesta.

A one-of-its-kind women’s festival is back for a month of performances, community events and celebrations in Whanganui.

La Fiesta begins on February 8 and runs over the following four weeks, leading up to International Women’s Day on March 8.

Attendees can choose from 90 events and activities spanning 35 venues across the city.

The festival is celebrating its 17th year.

“It’s ... unique and something that Whanganui needs to feel really proud about, because I certainly am,” La Fiesta co-ordinator and founder Carla Donson said.

“There’s no other month-long women’s festival in the world.”

Donson is the manager of Women’s Network Whanganui which hosts the annual festival.

She said the aim of the event was to explore and celebrate gender equality in an intersectional and multicultural way, accessible to all ages.

“We are in the business of creating opportunities for women and girls,” she said.

“That’s our kaupapa.”

The festival launches on the evening of February 7 at Amdram Theatre, 171 Guyton St. The event will feature American singing act Mystic Muses: Music of the past, present and future - a Celtic music duo with Melissa Cox and Celia Farran.

Events range from special museum exhibitions to creative workshops, feminist talks, sports classes and more.

Donson said some of this year’s highlights included a have-a-go session at the Whanganui Velodrome, the Women’s Rugby Series with former Black Fern Sosoli Talawadua and four live music events.

The Multicultural Council of Rangitīkei/Whanganui has partnered with La Fiesta to bring the region’s first Asian Pacific Festival on March 4 from 10am to 4pm at Keith Street School.

“The fact that there’s all these other different opportunities for women and girls to get involved with, whether it’s the give it a go sporting activities, or it’s some creative workshops or our special festival exhibition,” Donson said.

“There’s just so many different things that people can give a go. And I love that.”

Between 2500 and 3500 people are expected to attend events during the month.

This year’s festival has partnered with more than 100 groups and organisations, making La Fiesta 2026 the largest in terms of festival partners, Donson said.

A long-time partner is Sport Whanganui.

Donson said a shared goal was to create more opportunities for women and girls to stay active in sport.

“One of the things that we know, not just in a New Zealand context but globally, is that we see a drop off in engagement with sports around about the teenage years for girls and young women,” Donson said.

“And so part of us wanting to have a variety of different sports in recreational activities is to try and encourage movement and participation.”

“Trying to give women fun opportunities just to get their bodies moving.”

The month of festivities will culminate in a live concert at St Laurence’s Chapel, Gibson St, on March 8.

The “Grit, glam and glory” concert from 4pm to 6.30pm will feature Taranaki artists Karen Clarke Blueswoman, Betsy Raines and Celine Filbee.

For more information and tickets, visit La Fiesta website or Eventfinda.

Erin Smith is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.