Pride in Liverpool returns this weekend for a day of laughter, dance and celebration.
The event, which comes back after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, will see thousands of members from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies flood the streets with rainbow colours, sparkles and glam. Holding banners and signs the city will come together to protest against bigotry and hatred.
With celebrations officially beginning from as early as 10,30am with the muster for the annual March with Pride parade and lasting right through the night until the early hours of the morning, there is a lot to keep up with. That's why we've curated a full guide on everything you need to know to celebrate Pride this Saturday, July 30, in style.
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March with Pride parade
Kicking off the celebrations on Saturday, July 30, is the city’s annual March with Pride parade. The parade will start from St George’s Plateau and end at the festival site - the Pier Head. March muster will begin at 10.30am with the march departing from St George’s Plateau at noon, following speeches and performances.
The march is planned to travel down Lime Street, turn onto St John’s Lane and proceed through Queen Square, along Whitechapel and Lord Street. After, it will move through Castle Street, then turn right and head towards the Pride Quarter, travelling along Cook Street and Victoria Street, before turning left onto Stanley Street.
Once the march has passed along Stanley Street, it will turn left down Dale Street and Water Street, crossing The Strand at Water Street before entering the Pride in Liverpool festival site between 12.45pm - 1pm. LCR Pride Foundation said: “Please note a changing city centre the route may need to be altered slightly on the day - if you’re marching please follow the instructions of march stewards."
Pride in Liverpool Festival
The Pride in Liverpool event taking place at the city’s Pier Head will run from noon until 8pm. The event is fenced but is free and you do not need tickets to access the site during the event. Bag searches are in place for safety and licensing purposes only.
The main stage will first provide a platform for a host of local talent from across the city region, including performances from Linda Gold’s FunnyBoyz, scouse powerhouse vocalist, Filla Crack, who will perform with previous Vogue Ball winners, House of La Porta, Young Homotopia and Many Hands, One Heart.
The line-up of “homegrown talent” will join disco legends Boney M. featuring Maizie Williams, who will headline the event. Pride in Liverpool had been due to be headlined by Irish pop legend, Samantha Mumba, but she was unable to perform due to problems with travel from the US. The Caribbean foursome will entertain the LGBTQ+ community, its allies and supporters with some of their greatest hits including ‘Daddy Cool’, ‘Rivers of Babylon’ and ‘Rasputin’.
There will also be representation from some local LGBTQ+ venues, bringing OMG, The Lisbon and Superstar Boudoir’s best-loved performers and hosts to the Pride in Liverpool stage. Radio City and Hits Radio Pride Breakfast “Loud and Proud” presenter, Jordan Lee, will kick off the show, with The Guide’s Jay Hynd, making his sixth appearance on the main stage, also hosting throughout the day.
As well as the Barclays Main Stage, Pride in Liverpool will also welcome the Film with Pride Cinema Lorry, which will be showing The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Hedwig and The Angry Inch and Cabaret. Tickets will cost £3 and can be purchased on the day or in advance online. As all films are rated 15, proof of age will be required.
How to get to the city’s Pride celebrations
The best way to get to the Pride in Liverpool is by using the many public transport options available across the Liverpool City Region. The main festival site will be located at Pier Head in Liverpool city centre.
It is important to remember that rail strikes and other industrial action are planned for Saturday, July 30, which may affect travel to Pride in Liverpool. So it is best to check your transport provider, plan ahead accordingly and leave plenty of time for your journey.
Bus
The two nearest bus stations are Queen Square (15 min walk) and Liverpool ONE (9 min walk). There are a number of city centre road improvement works taking place which may mean usual bus stops may be moved.
Train
Pride in Liverpool is accessible by train, via Lime Street Station for March with Pride (St George’s Plateau), or change here for James Street via Merseyrail for the most direct route to the festival site.
Active Travel
There are lots of green ways to travel across the city centre including CityBike and Voi e-scooters which are available to hire.
Car
The nearest car parking facilities are N.C.P. Capital Car Park, Q Park Liverpool ONE and Princes Dock Multistorey Car Park.
Coach
The National Express coach station is situated in Liverpool ONE bus station (9 min walk).
Ferry
Travel from the Wirral by Mersey Ferry or River Explorer Cruise and enter straight into the Pride in Liverpool site. Free parking is available at Seacombe Ferry Terminal.
After Party
If you aren’t ready to hang up your dancing shoes come 8pm, here is a list of the bars and clubs within the Pride Quarter that will be hosting their own events late into the night.
G Bar
The Eberle Street venue will be running its usual outdoor street party and indoor festival from 4pm - 7 am. Inside only will be from 11pm onwards. The line-up includes special guest DJ Kinnerman, and all of its resident DJs including Andy Locker, Dave Bennett, Andy Mac, Minnie Coopper and Violet Pain. Some more guests are to be announced so it is worth keeping an eye on its socials for more information in the next couple of days.
OMG Liverpool
Open from 10am, the venue is hosting a morning prosecco brunch before the annual March with Pride kicks off. Following the march, the venue will be serving “drinks and vibes” from 1.30pm until 5am with a “drag DJ line up all day and night to keep you keen.” Those helping you dance through the day include Natasha Von Spirit, Ketona Madrave and Carmen Sutra. Tickets are free for the brunch but only a limited amount are left.
Heaven Nightclub
This year, the venue is opening for longer hours than it ever has before. Serving drinks from 12pm until 8am the following day, customers can expect a “fun camp day bar” which has been created out of the old printworks shop. If you fancy spending the day outside, Heaven will have outdoor seating, stages for its 10 queens to entertain you on, parasols and DJ sets.
Superstar Boudoir
Superstar Boudoir is treating you to DJ sets from six different drag queens including Brenda LaBeau and Angelica Watson. The club’s staff will be part-taking in the annual March with Pride first in the morning.
Icon
Hosting its first ever Pride event, Icon will have seven drag queens performing alongside its usual camp and pop tunes and drink deals. While the likes of August Snow will be DJing, the fabulous Barbie Pink will be hosting on the door throughout the day. The venue will be open from 1pm until 4am.
Masquerade Bar
It’s a 10am start for the venue this weekend as it will be serving free breakfast barms for everyone before the March with Pride event. After, guests can expect a street party and the indoor venue to be open until 3am with performances from a Kylie Minogue tribute act. When guests are singing to the chorus of ‘Can’t Get You out of My Head’, they can expect to be entertained by the likes of Candi and Daniella Manntrapp.
On Point Liverpool
The Eberle Street pub is set to be filled from 12pm with “all of your favourites” including Naya Thorn and Angel Dewynter. Live entertainment will be provided by the award-winning Lady Imelda. The pub will also have a pop-up outdoor bar for this year's celebrations.
Kittys Showbar
Kittys Showbar will start the day off by offering free breakfast roll and tea or coffee to their guests before having an early evening with “two fantastic vocalists” Jonathan Graham and Sandy. The Tithebarn Street venue will open from 2pm for drinks and music.
Liberte
Just a stone’s throw away from the city’s Pride Quarter, Liberte will be hosting its Al Fresco Pride Garden Festival event.
The event is to “celebrate all that Liverpool has to offer and feel Liberated in Liberte.” It will consist of five DJs taking sets one after another from 2pm with “funky house music from day to night. The party will continue in the nightclub downstairs until 2am, and as the March with Pride parade will be going past the venue, it is the perfect spot to be “amongst the vibe and spirit all day.”
The venue downstairs will also boast a colourful bright decor adding to the whole experience and be completed with themed cocktails.
Road Closures
A number of road closures will be put in place this weekend to help facilitate the city’s Pride celebrations.
In order for the annual March with Pride parade and Pride in Liverpool festival to take place safely, road closures will mean no vehicle movement will be possible - except for emergency services. The main road closures will be in place from 11am until roughly 2.30 pm.
Here is the full list of roads that will be affected this weekend:
The roads affected by these closures for the March with Pride route include:
St George's Plateau
Lime Street
William Brown St
Old Haymarket
St Johns Lane
Queen Sq Bus St
Whitechapel
Lord Street
Castle Street
Cook Street
Victoria Street
Stanley Street
Dale Street
Strand (Crossing) Water Street
Canada Boulevard
It is emphasised that roads adjoining these streets will likely be affected by queueing traffic during the closure and a short time after the closure is lifted.
The roads affected by the Pride in Liverpool festival include:
A road closure will be in place only at the junction of Water Street and Canada Boulevard from approximately 8:00 am until 9:00 pm to allow safe access and egress to the event site for pedestrians during the event.
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