Last year celebrated 50 years since the first Pride event in the country, the UK Gay Pride Rally in London, took place. The message behind Pride still stands strong today as the fight for LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion continues.
For us here in Greater Manchester, we like to celebrate Pride in a number of ways - from the unique and poignant to the all-out celebrations and dancefloor shenanigans.
We also like to refuse to accept that Pride month - which is usually held in June - is the only time of year when Pride can be celebrated, with events taking place across the city-region from April until September.
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Bury Pride took place on April 29 and was the first Pride event of 2023 to kick off in Greater Manchester. The next celebration will be Pride in Trafford, which runs from May 17 to 20. The event will bring together a range of theatre, culture and entertainment via cabaret, comedy and music.
Comedians Stephen Bailey and Marie Goulbourne, drag queen Belinda Scandal, and performers Sam Danson, Eleni Edipidi and Levantes Dance Theatre will all be taking part in shows throughout the Trafford event.
Pride On The Range, in Whalley Range, will take place from May 25-29. The free event will feature the Rainbow Park Run at Alexandra Park, alongside open mic nights, a garden party (featuring laughter yoga!) and a dance party featuring Queer Latifah, Kiss Me Again and Claud Cunningham.
The Pink Picnic in Salford on June 17 will feature the likes of Girls Aloud’s Nadine Coyle, Nimmo and Big Brovaz as headliners. Drag queens and performers Black Peppa, Bailey J Mills, Yshee Black and Annabelle Lecter will also be on hand to ensure people in Peel Park have a good time.
The annual Sparkle weekend, which is regarded as the world's largest free-to-attend celebration of gender diversity, will take place in Sackville Gardens from July 7 to 9. Throughout July, there will also be pride celebrations in Tameside, Oldham, Rochdale, Bolton and Stockport.
Manchester Pride will take place from August 25 to 28th and will include The Gay Village Party at Sackville Gardens featuring the likes of Brazilian drag sensation Pabblo Vittar, Scissor Sisters’ frontman Jake Shears and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard.
Whilst the Gay Village Party will be ticketed, Manchester Pride will host a range of free events throughout the city centre, including the annual Pride parade, arts and culture staple Superbia, Youth Pride MCR and Family Pride MCR.
Didsbury and Chorlton are both scheduled to be the last to hold a Pride event in Greater Manchester, with their celebrations down for September 2 and 16 respectively.
The full list of Pride events across Greater Manchester:
- Pride in Trafford: Wed 17th – Sat 20th May
- Pride on the Range: Sat 27th May
- The Pink Picnic, Salford: Sat 17th June
- Wythenshawe Pride In The Park: Sat 24th June
- Rochdale in Rainbows: Sun 24th June (date TBC)
- Sparkle Weekend: Fri 7th – Sun 9th July
- Tameside Pride: Sat 15th July
- Oldham Pride: Fri 21st – Sun 23rd July
-
Pride in Bolton: Fri 28th – Sun 30th July
- Stockport Pride: Sun 30th July
- Levenshulme Pride: Fri 11th – Sun 13th Aug
- Wigan Pride: Sat 12th Aug
- Prestwich Pride: Sat 12th – Mon 14th Aug
- Manchester Pride: Fri 25th – Mon 28th Aug
- Didsbury Pride: Sat 2nd Sept
- Chorlton Pride: Sat 16th Sept
If we're missing a Pride event across Greater Manchester in 2023, let us know and we will update the list.
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