After what feels like the hiatus of a lifetime, the Manchester Pride parade is finally coming back to the streets of the city centre for the first time since 2019 in what is set to be a glimmering ray of colour, celebration and activism.
With Manchester Pride kicking off on Friday (August 26), it would only be right that it included the Parade which always promises to be an unforgettable highlight to the four-day event.
With organisers promising to bring Pride back to its roots, most of the festivities will be taking place within the Gay Village, with a variety of stages offering everything from cabaret to 90s dance icons to even a bit of Spice with Melanie C.
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But there’s still plenty going on throughout the city too - with many free and family-friendly events taking place, including the Superbia Festival and Feel Good Fest in the Northern Quarter.
This year’s flamboyant parade will feature more than 10,000 participants both marching and riding floats throughout the streets of Manchester as thousands cheer them on with flags and some equally fabulous outfits.
For those not able to attend the parade this year, we’ll be streaming the event live on Facebook. Make sure you follow both the Manchester Evening News and CityLife pages in order to get a notification when we go live. You’ll also be able to catch up with the stream afterwards too.
But, for those who are planning to enjoy the parade in person, we’ve compiled a handy guide of everything you’ll need to know to make the most of it.
When is the Manchester Pride Parade 2022?
The parade takes place on the Saturday of the Pride weekend, on August 27.
The procession sets off at midday and usually takes a couple of hours to reach the finish line.
What’s the weather going to be like?
While it currently looks like Saturday will be partly cloudy, there is a possibility of some glimmers of sunshine throughout the day - but maybe that’s just a bit of wishful thinking on our part.
We'd always suggest you bring plenty of water with you so you can stay hydrated throughout.
Manchester Pride parade route map and where to watch it
This year's parade will follow the same route as 2018 and 2019, setting off along Deansgate from the junction with Liverpool Road.
The procession will then turn right on Peter Street, past the Great Northern Warehouse and the Central Library onto Oxford Street, before turning right onto Portland Street.
Skirting the Gay Village, the parade will then turn right on to Princess Street then left on to Whitworth Street before finishing at Fairfield Street.
Our usual suggestions on where to stake out your spot are at the base of Beetham Tower, the corner of Deansgate and Peter Street, outside the Central Library, and pretty much anywhere along the Portland Street stretch.
Suggested viewing areas and vantage points, alongside accessible viewing areas, are marked on the map above.
What's the Manchester Pride parade 2022 theme?
As mentioned earlier, this year’s Pride is going back to its roots of activism. With that in mind, this year’s parade will be a march for peace.
The parade will highlight the importance of peace in a world where all LGBTQ+ people are free to live and love without prejudice at its heart. In fact, the theme was originally supposed to take form in 2020 before the parade had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
Mark Fletcher, CEO at Manchester Pride, said: “In 2020 we had decided to theme the parade as our March for Peace. Sadly the pandemic took hold and we were unable to take to the streets.
“As we look around the world today, this theme has become even more relevant. Conflict within and outside of our communities is rife and we are calling on our LGBTQ+ communities and allies around Greater Manchester to join in and support us as we March for Peace.
“ LGBTQ+ people have achieved so much in recent history, however, homophobic and transphobic hate crimes have increased in recent years, with many people still facing discrimination because of their identity.
“We are calling on our communities and its allies to come together, embrace differences, and to recognise that everyone deserves the right to be who they are and live their lives in Peace.
“Our Parade message is loud and clear this year: No one is really free unless we are all free, and no one gets left behind.”
What's on after the parade?
Pride certainly does not end when the parade finishes. In fact, some might even say the parade marks the beginning of Pride for them.
For those planning to enjoy the Gay Village and the wealth of entertainment on offer at Pride this year, we've got a handy guide here on everything you need to know about collecting tickets and having a good time. We've also got you covered when it comes to stage times.
We've also looked at some of the best free events taking place across the city over Pride weekend, which include drag performances, dog shows and art exhibitions. Not just that, we've even rounded-up some of the bars and restaurants where you can celebrate Pride without a wristband.
Lastly, with train strikes still taking place and the fact that transport services will be busier than usual, we've also looked at some of the transport information you need to be aware of.
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