Pride in Newcastle is just around the corner, with Northern Pride hosting UK Pride 2022 on the Town Moor from July 22 and across the weekend.
Organisers are promising a huge line-up of entertainment as they celebrate the first time Pride has been held as a physical celebration since before Covid . From performances by a Spice Girl and a Drag Race star to a funfair and food, there promises to be something for everyone in this year’s vibrant celebration of the North East’s LGBTQ+ community.
Alongside the main performance stage the Town Moor is set to have an arena and a village full of different zones showcasing everything from cabaret to arts and crafts, as well as dedicated areas for families and access to a range of services. Here’s what you can expect if you’re heading to the Town Moor next weekend for Pride.
READ MORE: UK Pride in Newcastle - food and drink rules for Northern Pride Town Moor celebrations
Friday night fundraiser
Pride celebrations will kick off on July 22 with the fundraiser launch night - this is the only part of the festival that you need to buy tickets for. The event will feature performances from Todrick Hall, Jodie Harsh and Bimini, as well as a set from singer Katy B and BBC Radio 1 DJ Dean McCullough.
Main Stage weekend line-up
July 23 will see Spice Girl Mel C take a spot on the main stage for a DJ set, alongside North East singer Karen Harding and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Choriza May. On July 24 Louise Redknapp will headline the entertainment, with performances from DJ Adele Roberts and South Shields-born singer Joe McElderry.
The festival will end with what organisers are calling “one of its most ambitious performances to date” featuring Ibiza in Symphony featuring DJ Michael Maddison, where a live orchestra will play dance classics supported by local LGBTQ+ singers and musicians. Tribute band Re-Take That and Smash Hits Live are also confirmed for the weekend.
The line-up will also heavily feature the North East’s LGBTQ+ community, with more than a dozen local performers gracing the stage hosted by Miss Rory and mystery "special guests". Campaigners will take to the stage too as part of this year’s theme of Remember, Resist and Rise Up, including President of the European Pride Organising Association Kristine Garina.
What’s on in the Festival Arena
Alongside the stellar line-up of performances, there’s loads more going on across the Town Moor site. The Festival Arena where the main stage is located will also be home to a fun fair, various food and drink stalls, a merchandise shop, and the Platinum Bar and Garden for those who have paid for a Platinum Pass.
The arena will also play host to the Rainbow Village on Saturday - an area packed with local and and national charities and businesses where attendees can access products and services. There will also be a Be Scene Zone, which showcases dance and cabaret performances from amazing local talent.
What’s on in the Community Village
The Town Moor will also be home to the Community Village - a hub for activities, support services and information. It will include a Sports Zone showcasing inclusive and accessible sports from across the region, a Family and Youth Zone offering arts, crafts, music and sensory play for younger visitors, and a Health & Wellbeing Zone that will provide sexual health screening and HIV testing.
The Curious Arts stage will also be located in the village, a project celebrating “everything that’s great about the North East’s LGBTQIA+ arts and culture scene”, and an LGBT Northern Social Group Zone will offer a safe space for members of the community to get together. Finally, changing rooms can be found in the village to get into your best Pride gear, and there will be some extra food and drink options here too.
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