Bursting with fun, colour and love, Manchester Pride returns to the city over the August bank holiday weekend and plans are, as expected, well under way. Manchester will no doubt be rolling out the rainbow carpet for the annual four-day LGBTQ+ celebration, which takes quite a different shape this year after event bosses said they wanted Pride to reclaim its activist roots.
While firm fixtures including the Gay Village Party and Candlelit Vigil will remain, the MCR Pride Live Festival has been scrapped following a consultation with residents and visitors. Meanwhile, the much-loved parade will make its grand return after a two year absence, with floats and outfits inspired by a ‘March for Peace’ theme.
The Canal Street neighbourhood will once again be at the heart of the event, with an ‘exciting and diverse’ range of performers including Spice Girls’ Melanie C, Girls Aloud’s Nadine Coyle and Drag Race star Bimini performing. Taking place across three different stages - the Alan Turing stage, the MancUnity stage and the Cabaret Stage - the party will be kicked off in style on the Friday evening by Trans organisations, Trans Creative and Milk Presents.
