Paekākāriki Pride Festival

Paekākāriki Pride Festival takes over the Kāpiti Coast village every Labour Weekend in late October. It's a deviation from Wellington's March Pride season, but one that's gained its own momentum since 2016, when a fundraising dance was held for Georgina Beyer, New Zealand's first openly transgender MP. In 2017, Beyer cut the ribbon on what's locally claimed to be the world's shortest Pride parade.

The 2024 programme was packed: a meet-and-greet at Finn's, a parade along The Parade, discos for kids and adults at St Peter's Village Hall, a Pride swim, and a dog show at Campbell Park, all from 25 to 27 October. For 2026, the festival falls on Labour Weekend, with Labour Day on Monday, 26 October. But as of now, there's no published programme, so you'll need to check the Paekākāriki Pride Facebook page before heading out. Trains from Wellington on the Kāpiti Line stop right in the village, about 45 minutes from the city.