Manchester Pride is Already Getting in Full Fab Swing!

Circus performers, a Big Top and Nadine Coyle


Last week, our friends in the north caught the Pendolino down to London and showcased Manchester Pride’s circus theme in Trafalgar Square! Early on a Thursday morning, a lively group of acrobats, stilt walkers and contortionists confounded commuters and tourists to give a taste of what to expect over the two-day event.

When asked why the celebration will be channelling the spirit of the Big Top (yeah, very good), Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride, said: “In the past the circus was a place where outcasts and those who felt ostracised by the rest of society finally felt accepted. The Circus of Acceptance welcomes everyone and celebrates the different people who make up our diverse LGBT+ community; celebrating individual quirks, skills, differences and fascinations.”

The event takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world and raising money for LGBT+ charities. It includes four main events: The Pride Parade with 150 floats and over 400 marchers; The Superbia Weekend, an alcohol-free, family-friendly, free-to-attend festival that celebrates LGBT life and arts; The Candlelit Vigil that finishes the weekend and commemorates those lost to HIV/AIDS; and The Big Weekend, a four day music festival with superstar performances from the likes of Rita Ora, Jake Shears, Alexandra Burke, Nadine Coyle, TCTS, Jellybean Benitez and many, many more! Third release tickets are currently £28 for the full weekend, or £20 for day passes.

For tickets and further information, visit manchesterpride.com

And if you do make the trip up there, make sure to check out our QX guide to Gay Manchester beforehand at qxmagazine.kinsta.cloud/manchester!

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