The month of events began last Saturday with an opening picnic at the Dunedin Botanic Garden and a creative quilting event at Toitū Otago Settlers Museum, where people could contribute a square to the Ōtepoti Dunedin Pride Community 2025 Quilt.
On Sunday a ceilidh and Celtic barn dance at the Dunedin Botanic Garden Sound Shell featured the sounds of local band Frivolry.
Chairperson Meihana Pōtiki-Grayling said there were plenty of other events to enjoy during March.
Today and tomorrow people can print their own poster on a vintage press at the University of Otago Library’s Ōtākou Press Studio.
In collaboration with the Dunedin Fringe Festival, a Fringe x Pride Hub will once again be taking place at 20 Princes St.
"We will be running as well a couple of crafting and drop-in sessions and people can bring their crafts in."
Throughout the month, Hocken Collections is providing a chill-out space and reading nook. It is also hosting a ’zine making workshop on Saturday, highlighting the historic role of magazines for marginalised communities.
Dunedin Pride events lead Evelyn Robertson said a key event for her was the evening Pride Church Service on Sunday, March 23 at St Paul’s Cathedral.
It was important to highlight a local church showing support for the rainbow community, especially after recent protests by Destiny Church members who disrupted Auckland’s Rainbow Parade and stormed a library drag event.
"To have institutions of the city coming out and saying, we stand by the queer community, the queer community are welcome and accepted, not just at our church, but there are leaders from other churches coming, city councillors coming, I think MPs usually show up as well."
"It is the foundations of the city standing up, saying, ‘this is a queer city, we have queer people in Dunedin’."
— Visit dunedinpride.org.nz for a full list of events.
