2008: A year of Pride
In year that will play host to more gay pride events then ever before, Oxford Pride is changing the route of it’s first ever parade to start at the “fabulous Market Square of Oxford Castle.”
From Market Square the Parade will exit Oxford Castle onto New Road at midday, then continue onto Paradise Street, passing Oxford’s three gay pubs before turning into St Thomas Street and Oxpens Road.
The Parade will arrive at Oxpens Field for the Oxford Pride Event where the fun and entertainment continues through to 8pm.”
Two Australian performers will be making their UK Pride debut: Courtney Act (Australian Idol) will be singing her new single and violinist Sophie Serafino will get things heated up.
This year will see a record number of gay pride events; here is a brief summery of some of the marches and parades that will be taking place this year:
Pride London
5th July
This year’s Pride London Parade and Rally will take place in central London and expects to attract more than 500,000 people.
This year’s theme is ‘Fairytales, Myths and Legends.’ It promising to be the most visually spectacular Pride ever, with its stage to be packed with a big lineup of celebrities, entertainment and politics.
Rainbowfest (Aberdeen)
5th July
Rainbowfest is a new event for Aberdeen City & Shire that aims to bring together the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender individuals in the area along with their family and friends for an inclusive day with acts, activities and information.
Bourne Free Pride Festival/Jazz Picnic for Bournemouth’s Pride
11th- 13th July
The fifth annual Bourne Free Pride Festival will be taking over the seaside resort of Bournemouth for three days, from Friday 11th until Sunday 13th of July.
The event is a colourful celebration of all diversities that live in the area and the constant strive towards universal equality for all through entertainment and awareness.
Last year the event attracted thousands of people from across the UK so for 2008 it has been extended across an entire weekend with more going on than ever before.
Northern Pride
12th July
An LGBT community event run by and for the LGBT community in the northeast.
2-4.30 pm, Pink Picnic in Leazes Park, with community marketplace, entertainment, kids events, sports, and workshops
Though the main even would last for a day, there are various events that would continue throughout the month of July.
Sunday 13th July – The Last Laugh comedy night, Journal Tyne Theatre, with Scott Capurro, Jonathan Major, Stephen K. Amos and Mandy Muden
7th-20th July – LGBT Art Exhibition @ La Boca Art Café
Oxford Gay Pride
12th July
The first ever Oxford Pride has changed its starting location to Market Square of Oxford Castle.
From Market Square the Parade will exit Oxford Castle onto New Road at midday, then continue onto Paradise Street, passing Oxford’s three gay pubs before turning into St Thomas Street and Oxpens Road.
The Parade will arrive at Oxpens Field for the Oxford Pride Event where the fun and entertainment continues through to 8pm.”
Two Australian performers will be making their UK Pride debut: Courtney Act (Australian Idol) will be singing her new single and violinist Sophie Serafino will get things heated up.
Thanet Pride
26th July
The Thanet Pride will take place along the road from the Clock Tower to the Old Town and a giant stage would be erected for the full entertainment programme that would be offer throughout the day.
The event will start at 11am and end at 7.30pm with a funfair continuing later.
Nottingham Pride
26th July
The line up is still to be confirmed but the event will be held in the city’s Arboretum Park.
Brighton Pride
2nd August
The 2008 Summer festival week runs from Saturday 26th July to Sunday 3th August 2008.
The theme for this year’s Carnival Parade on Saturday 2nd August is ‘Pride Around The World’.
Tory candidate Dr. David Bull has confirmed that he will be participating in this year’s Brighton Pride event after his success last year of the first ever tory gay pride float.
Leeds Pride
3rd August
Leeds Pride will take place on Sunday 3rd August 2008. Opening the event, in Leeds Millennium Square, will be civic leaders welcoming the vast crowds of LGBT people, their families, friends and allies to the city.
Then the fun begins with the opening of the main-stage graced by some of the region’s and country’s top performers. As the crowd are entertained the floats are being marshalled for the centrepiece of Leeds Pride, the massive parade through the City.
Gay Pride in Gloucestershire
9th August
Gloucestershire Gay Pride will take place at Llanthony Priory (Llanthony Road, next to the new Gloucestershire College campus)
The free carnival promises a day of fun and entertainment, including acts from The Bag, a popular ‘local’ band, Bridget & the Big Girls Blues, Stevie Maull- Swindon’s Pride Idol winner and much more.
Hull Pride
9th August
The gay community in Hull will staged their 7th Pride event in West Park on Anlaby Road. The event is the largest of its kind in Yorkshire and is expecting over 10,000 people to attend.
Everyone in the city is welcome to come along and join them from 1pm on Saturday 8th August for a day of fun entertainment through until 6pm.
Wakefield Pride
10th August
The next gay Pride in Wakefield will be on Sunday August 10th 2008
Manchester Pride
15th- 22th August
Manchester Pride is a ten day festival between 15 and 25 August 2008. The Big Weekend 78-hour party begins on 22 August.
Tickets are on sale now at £12.50
Swindon Pride
16th August
Swindon’s first Pride will be held at the Old Town Garden’s. They are also holding a pink ball on 25th July. Tickets are at sale for £28.00 per head.
Dumfries and Galloways first LGBT Pride
16th August
Dumfries and Galloways first LGBT Pride. 16th August 2008 12 noon – 4pm.
Free to the public, nominal cost for parking. Stalls, food and a dry bar, a great pride day out for the whole family, inclusive and informative day.
Dumfries Pride, Scotland
16th August
Dumfries Pride will be the first ever pride event in the region. It will take place at Park Farm in August the 16th, 12pm – 4pm.
There will also be Pride Prom which will be at the Minerva Hall, 8 till late. Events have yet to be confirmed.
Doncaster Pride
17th August
The event will last from at 2pm and 9pm.
There will be a variety of activities to choose from; the walk of unity, rainbow market, a funfair, street entertainment and a 6 hour live stage.
UK Black Pride
16th August
UK Black Pride, (UKBP) is organisation created to promote unity among Black people of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Latin American descent who identify as Lesbian Gay Bi-Sexual & Transgender.
The event will be held at Regents College, London.
Cornwall Pride
23th August
Cornwall’s first ever Cornwall Pride Festival will be similar to other events throughout the country and should be an opportunity for local business to benefit from a significant group of people from across the country.
The newly-elected Chairman Christian Diamant said:
“At its most basic what Cornwall Pride is celebrating is the fact that Cornwall is a better place because not everyone is white, not everyone is straight and that Cornwall would be a worse place if we were all the same!
“Hopefully, the event will be enjoyable for both locals and holiday makers who are visiting our County.”
Pride Glasgow
30th August
Pride Glasgow will take place on Saturday August 30th 2008, timings to be confirmed.
Keep up to date at their website or from any of our social networking sites a complete list can be found at www.bebo.com/prideglasgow
Reading Pride
30th August
This year’s Reading Pride festival will be taking place on 30th August 2008 in King’s Meadow Park between 12:00 and 20:00.
Derby Pride Festival
26th September
Derby Goes Pink is Derby’s Largest LGBT event.
It will be held on the 26th, 27th and 28th of September 2008 in Derby, with street performances, live music and drag acts on stage, dramatic performances and more.
Cardiff Pride
6th September
Cardiff Pride will replace the ten-year-old Welsh flagship event, yet will have all the important key elements people have come to expect over the years.
If there is a Pride event in your area that we haven’t mentioned let us know at [email protected]
