Following today's announcement, all ticketed events and the On-Mountain series have been cancelled.
Some of the Countdown Community Series will be rescheduled to a time where Queenstown is at Level 1 or 2 and we will update those involved when it is safe.
Our free public events, uncluding ASB Pride in the Park and Woof are also cancelled.
Following this week's announcement of the lockdown extension and cancellation of Winter Pride Events until 2nd of September (and large events after this date), we are now able to announce our Winter Pride Long Weekend schedule for COVID-19 Alert Level 2 events, from 2nd September to 5th September.
One thing COVID-19 teaches you it is adapt and pivot quickly, and we have done that!
The purpose of this plan is to enable people who can, and who want to come together safely in Queenstown to have a range of COVID-19 Alert Level 2 compliant events to attend. If there is no COVID-19 in the South Island, there is no reason why that this can't go ahead.
Whilst all our large events can’t operate and have been cancelled, we have 4 days and more than 15 events to choose from. It may be smaller, but that’s a pretty cool little festival, in a pretty cool little town that is PROUD to host Winter Pride. We have a great line up of local and South Island DJ’s for our events, and some awesome local Drag performances to throw into the mix.
ALL events (except Gibbston Valley Long Lunch) **will be FREE access to any Winter Pride Patrons** irrespective of whether they have claimed a partial refund or not. We know there are people from Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill keen to meet friends in Queenstown, and potentially further afield depending on lockdown measures in the the rest of the country outside of Auckland. It's important for so many LGBT+ people and our wellbeing to connect in safe spaces which may not exist at other times of the year.
The Long Weekend Level 2 plan is based on the assumption that the Mountains open and can operate safely, that bars, cafes, venues, and wineries open for seated events with compulsory track and tracing and this is perfect for our small, but special festival this year.
Patron's will need to just register their 'interest' from Friday afternoon following the next COVID-19 Alert Level announcement, when we hope we will know whether this is possible or not. Remember, all events will only have 100 people maximum, must be seated, it will be compulsory to scan or sign in, and anyone who is sick or has symptoms will not be able to attend. Our team that are customer facing will also be wearing masks. The mountains have different regulations, but will be open at Level 2. Check out the mountain websites for further information.
Keep an eye on your emails over the coming days for the registration link.
Thank you to all our Patron's for enabling Winter Pride 2021. Without your support, the festival would not have been possible in the COVID-19 environment we are operating in. In this update:
1. Immediate changes to the festival
2. What we are planning to be running if we are at level 2 (free access for patrons)
3. How to apply for compassionate refunds
4. Options for ticket transfers for other events later in the year
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1. Immediate changes to the festival
As you know, the latest COVID-19 outbreak has occurred just before the festival was about to start. This means that there are some significant changes to the festival.
All events prior to Thursday 2nd September have been cancelled. This impacts on anyone planning on attending Winter Pride before this date. Any events not able to operate safely at level 2 after Thursday 2nd September are also cancelled including ASB Pride in the Park and WOOF and our major party events. A full list of cancelled events will be published as soon as possible.
2. What we are planning to be running if we are at level 2 (free access for patrons)
From Thursday 2 September to Sunday 5th September, we are working on a reduced Winter Pride Long Weekend festival on a level 2 basis (if we know we will move there from Friday's announcement), on the assumption that Queenstown and many parts of the country could be at Level 2 by these dates.
This means the Mountain Resorts will be operating, we can confirm Apres Ski will be on each night, and other events to be signed off, including Quiz Night, Jingo, Gibbston Valley Long Lunch and more – all capable of being safe and seated. It is still important for Pride to happen where LGBT+ people can come together safely, in safe spaces, and be themselves. This will only happen if it is safe to do so.
ALL patrons will be able to attend at no extra cost (capacity allowing for non meal events). Please keep your eyes on social media and your emails for this announcement and an invitation to register for tickets as a patron.
The Winter Pride community series of events including Rainbow Story Times, High School Pride talks and Drag 101 workshop will be postponed until later in the year.
3. How to apply for compassionate refunds
Festivals take all year to plan and festival costs are largely incurred before the festival even starts with marketing, insurance, design, consulting fees, compliance, flights, accommodation, and at this stage of the festival a large amount of deposits and booking fees. With less than 1 week to go, this leaves very little room for refunds.
Although we are mindful that you all agreed to our terms and conditions (Terms and Conditions) which were that all Patron's Levels and add-on tickets were non-refundable and non-transferrable, we equally understand that the current outbreak has had a range of impacts on people and caused much stress. We now have a small window of opportunity to recover some of our costs as a festival.
We are therefore offering partial compassionate refunds to all Patron's due to COVID-19. Compassionate refunds or ticket transfers (see details below) will be as follows:
Please note if you have a Gibbston Valley Long Lunch ticket we will email you separately as this event is NOT cancelled at this stage.
Please note that any ticketing and/or banking fees, or donations made cannot be refunded and are outside of Winter Pride's control.
You will be sent an email shortly with the link to apply based your patron status from HUMANITIX – please check your junk email of you do not receive this in the next 24 hours.
To be eligible for any refund, you must apply by Thursday 26 August, 12 noon. No applications will be considered after this time.
4. Options for ticket transfers for other events later in the year
We have been working with our LGBTQIA+ event partners over the last week to offer tickets transfers from Winter Pride to future events in Auckland later in the year as an option. This not only means when we come out of this, we can 'keep the party going', but it also directly supports event producers, artists and performers in our communities who are also impacted by COVID-19.
Options are if you select a ticket transfer:
WINTER PRIDE TICKET TRANSFERS FOR REMAINDER OF 2021
Friday, 24th September
Kita and Anita’s DRAG WARS
Phoenix, Auckland
Friday, 22nd October
Kita and Anita’s DRAG WARS
Phoenix, Auckland
Saturday 30 October
PROPAGANDA HALLOWEEN
Studio, Auckland
Saturday 13 November
URGE 24th Birthday
Phoenix, Auckland
Friday, 26th November
Kita and Anita’s DRAG WARS
Phoenix, Auckland
Saturday, December 11th
HOMO HOUSE
Neck of the Woods, Auckland
If you are a patron you will have been sent an email with the link to apply based your patron status from HUMANITIX – please check your junk email of you do not receive this in the next 24 hours.
To be eligible for any transfer, you must apply by Thursday 26 August, 12 noon**. No applications will be considered after this time and transfers will happen until the events are sold out. Terms and conditions of the new event tickets will apply, no exceptions.
If you bought a publicly available ticket for an event, your ticket will be refunded (less booking fees and donations).
