Manchester Pride

Manchester Pride 08 – 15th August until 25th August 2008.

“ A celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender life..”

Its that time of year again! August bank holiday weekend, and what better way to spend it than taking part in the Manchester Pride festival! Full of lots of in your face (in a good way!) bright colours, garish outfits and fun and frolicks!!!

The Big Weekend is the finale of the festival taking place over the bank holiday weekend itself, although there are many other things happening throughout the week before!

It all kicks off at 7.30pm on Friday 22nd August with DJ and former Big Brother Winner Kate Lawler performing her set of tough, dirty electro/progressive house music. Cue Angie Brown at 9:15pm to knock your socks off with her amaxing voice – Pride wouldn’t be the same without her! Finishing off the night is the one and only Boy George who is Djing a set to help celebrate Prides 18th birthday!

Saturdays festivities have been titled “Gaydar rocks the Gay Village!”. It all starts at 4pm with various DJ sets from Gaydar radio Djs, performances from Nikkibelle, Peyton and Sophie Ellis Bextor, DJ Katie Love finishes off the night with a DJ set.

The days just keep getting better, Sunday is full of Amy Winehouse tributes, The singer from Moloko and all of her weird get up, Abba tribute band Bjorn Again, DJ sets, new band Unstoppable Team and much much more! It all begins at 13.45pm on Sunday afternoon!

To bring all of the celebrations to a close, Monday is as jam packed as ever! Artists such as Heather Smalls, Natasha Hamilton, Rowetta, Natalia, Nathan Moore, Nikki French and new pop band Alphabeat will be gracing us with performances from 2pm on Sunday. The music stops at 8.30pm and from 9pm there will be a candlelight vigil in Sackville Park in remeberance and celebration of all of those affected by HIV/Aids.

That’s not even the half of it!! Oh no, the official Parade begins on Saturday 23rd August at 2pm and starts at the Museum of Science and Industry. This Carnival like event that moves right through the city centre is awash with colour, amazing costumes and pure outright fabulousness!!!!!

You will require a ticket for the big weekend celebrations, but it is only £17.50 in advance when you book online, and that covers the whole weekend. Quite a bargain really!!
Visit www.manchesterpride.com/tickets for yours!