While the world seems a scary and divided place right now, the city of Brighton & Hove will come out in a show of unity and respect on Fri 4 – Sun 6 Aug. A glittering carnival of diversity, Brighton Pride is back to offer one weekend where you can be who you truly want to be.
The UK’s biggest Pride festival now comes to multiple parts of the city across its main weekend, with loads of satellite events taking place in the preceding months. Every year, the Community Parade forms the centrepiece of the celebrations, as representatives from community groups, local businesses, and charities and make the journey from the seafront to the Pride Festival site in Preston Park. It’s one of the most incredible sights you’ll ever see in this city, and draws over 200,000 participants into the celebrations.
At the park everyone will find a glittering and truly inclusive community celebration, truly putting the fun into fundraising. This historic and unique event has enjoyed amazing performances from international stars, and this year is no different. The main stage will see a UK Pride exclusive from electro-superstars Years & Years, the epoch-defining Pet Shop Boys, and a whole host of incredible pop acts. Elsewhere the Wild Fruit Dance Tent, Legends Cabaret Tent, Bears & Men’s Dance Tent, Diva Girl’s World, Women’s Performance Stage, Urban World Dance Tent, OneFamily Pride Diversity Area, Trans Tent, Access Tent and Community Village will all be making you feel welcome amongst this sprawling wonderland.
Over in Brighton’s famous Kemptown, on the same weekend, The Pride Village Party will turn the neighbourhood into a two-day festive fairground of fabulousness. Here, the iconic seafront will be closed to traffic as thousands of Pride-goers come together for a unforgettable weekend of fundraising celebrations. It’ll be packed with special parties and events, including a return for Disco Lovers collective, who’ll offer DJ shows from Steve Mac and J-Felix at Brighton Rocks bar.
Last year saw a great debut for The Pride Pleasure Gardens, which makes its welcome return this year for a weekend of enchanting and exciting entertainment. A celebration of our diverse and glorious community, the Old Steine and Victoria Gardens are transformed into a unique Pride experience for three days and nights of fierce fun. It’ll witness saucy wonders, camp pop, stunning cabaret, Brighton bands, sensational live performances, cool DJs and hot clubbing. It brings together the exquisite sounds of Lucy Spraggan, singer songwriter Amelia Caesar and local heroes Frankie Furlow for Pride Unplugged on Friday night, whilst Saturday will see the brilliance of Brighton’s very own homegrown BIMM Showcase Stage and the funk, soul and club classics of DJ Sean Quinn providing the perfect Pride soundtrack. The Old Steine will be fizzing as Pride Goes Pop – S Club Party opens proceedings with an Official Pride Warm Up Party on Friday night. Saturday sees legendary ‘80s club night It Is Still 1985 and the self-declared chaos of alt.drag superstars Sink The Pink’s Club Tropicana Takeover. Sunday welcomes Stetson loving LGBT+ Community Line Dancing, and a hunk-filled sexy tea dance with London’s infamous Brut.
But with the good times comes a serious message and purpose. Brighton Pride’s ethos is to promote tolerance and diversity, whilst supporting local charities and good causes. All ticket revenue raised goes directly to the operational and running costs of producing the Pride Festival, LGBT Community Parade, Pride Village Party and community fundraising for the Rainbow Fund and Pride social impact fund.
Over £310,000 has been raised for local causes in the last four years thanks to the support of businesses, sponsors and the many thousands that purchase tickets for Pride events. This makes it possible for us to party and still have a positive impact on the community around us. So, let’s celebrate of our city’s diversity, and make it the Summer Of Love.
Brighton Pride comes to venues across the city on Fri 4 – Sun 6 Aug
www.brighton-pride.org
By Stuart Rolt
