The seaside town of Margate in Thanet, Kent, secured its position on the cultural map of England when the Turner Contemporary opened in 2011. This world class gallery was the catalyst for the regeneration of Margate.
As part of that cultural investment, Margate has really stepped up their Pride celebrations and the event has became one of the go-to Pride festivals for Londoners, greatly assisted by the fact that regular direct trains from London take less than two hours to get there!
Unfortunately, last year´s Pride events were unable to happen due to Covid, and this year Margate Pride are being equally as cautious, with no parade, and smaller ticketed events around town.
A careful, kind, considered celebration of pride has been programmed, with detailed planning placing your safety and comfort at the heart of the event:
Margate Pride Family Morning
Family morning starts at 11am-1pm. Queer families and their allies can enjoy story time, a choir, and lots of family activities. There’s even a performance from the Margate Kinky Boots cast to keep the kids entertained.
Margate Pride Afternoon
The afternoon schedule runs from 1.30pm-7pm with a social singing Choir, rally from Sue Sander, Josh Rivers, Reeta Loi and music from Reeta and DJ Gin. Over at The Sun Deck they’re having an epic queer cosmic disco party from 2pm-9pm where you can dance to your heart´s content.
Very Queer Beauty Pageant
At 5pm we celebrate Margate Pride with a Very Queer Beauty Pageant as Margate Pride look for someone who embodies Pride´s values of respect, diversity, inclusivity, excellence, authenticity, community, pride and accountability. Various rounds such as Poise and Performance allow contestants to show off these qualities.
Margate Pride at Dreamland: NADINE COYLE + Lisa Maffia + Jodie Harsh + More!
Dreamland are proud to be part of lovely times ahead for Margate Pride 2021. They are approaching pride with the same caution, with a ticketed, outdoor event on the main stage in the park, following all the latest government guidelines, track and trace, and so forth.
Margate Pride and Kilamanjaro Live present, on Dreamlands main stage, outdoors in the fresh air, queen of Girls Aloud Nadine Coyle, alongside Lisa Maffia, Jodie Harsh, Sink The Pink DJs, Janet District Council, Amy Zing and the drag queens of Margate Pride.
Nadine Coyle at Margate Pride
As one fifth of chart-mauling, award-winning, girl band Girls Aloud, Nadine Coyle has already played her part in helping redefine pop. Girls Aloud racked up twenty-one UK Top Ten singles, twenty of those consecutively. In 2010 Nadine Coyle began her journey as a solo artist. As Nadine says: “We weren’t trying to make it sound like Girls Aloud, we weren’t trying to make it sound the opposite, it was just a blank canvas. It’s exciting.” No stranger to Pride festivities, Nadine is excited to bring her solo music, alongside Girls Aloud hits to the Dreamland stage at sunset for Margate Pride 2021.
Lisa Maffia is British singer-songwriter, musician, rapper, actress, fashion designer, model and presenter who was the main female member of So Solid Crew. She DJs and performs tracks throughout her set, and is guaranteed to get a crowd hype! She is a proud Margate resident ready to bring the party to her home town Pride!
Jodie Harsh is the London DJ icon and reigning Queen supreme over international nightlife. The DJ, writer/producer and club-brand creator is famous for her trademark blonde beehive and thumping DJ sets at clubs, festivals and A-list parties across the planet. She was born in Kent so has a special connection to coming to play Margate Pride at Dreamland.
Sink The Pink DJs Sink the Pink are the UK’s largest LGBTQ+ club night, and can’t wait to bring the drag and the bangers to Dreamland for Margate pride 2021.
Amy Zing is co-founder of Sink The Pink, which saw Amy named one of Time Out’s Top 50 Influential Londoners. In 2016 Amy co-founded Margate Pride and in 2019 became Artistic Director of POW! Thanet. Amy has been DJing at prides and festivals for 15+ years and knows how to keep a dance floor bouncing. She will be joined onstage by members of Margate Pride´s drag family to close prides celebrations.
Janet District Council is Margates number 1 drag queen, house mother of the Executive Xanadu Collective, and a roller skating icon across Kent, she’s also a killer DJ who will open the pride celebrations at Dreamland.
We can’t wait to see Margate celebrating Pride as it does best, with community, kindness, love and respect for each other.
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS FOR MARGATE PRIDE AT DREAMLAND
For more information on Margate Pride 2021 visit their website
