THUNDERING into town like some huge rainbow-painted juggernaut, Manchester Pride has taken over the city centre for 11 days to celebrate the city's diverse and vibrant lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
This year's festival promises to be bigger than ever as Manchester Pride - sponsored by CityLife - has reached the grand old age of 18.
As with previous years, the first week of Pride is a lower-key event, providing plenty of opportunities for the more culturally-minded. BBC Manchester is hosting five lunchtime concerts, running from Monday, that explore the role music has played in the struggles for equality.
The Pride Chamber Music series features work by Dame Ethel Smyth who, as well as being a composer, was a suffragette and formidable establishment lesbian. The concerts take place daily at 1pm and donations can be paid on the door.
For poetry buffs, the Inside Out poetry evening will take place at Taurus on August 18 at 7pm, with readings from Lydia Rullow and Cath Nicholls. The following day, at 5.30pm, Stockport Central Library hosts a poetry event presented by Age Concern, featuring writers of all ages.
Taurus will also be home to a new comedy play by Sarah Evans, The Speed of Dating, which runs from August 19-21 at 8pm. Meanwhile, the on-going exhibitions Military Pride, My First Pride and The Lost Dresses of Travilla will be taking place at the Imperial War Museum North, Urbis and the Palace Hotel respectively.
However, for many, Manchester Pride really takes off over the Big Weekend. From Friday, August 22, you will require a wristband to enter the Gay Village. Tickets are available from most outlets in Canal Street or from manchesterpride.com. Expect traffic chaos on August 23 as the parade makes its flamboyant way through the city centre from 2pm, which heralds the true start of the party weekend.
Clubbing enthusiasts will not be short of alternatives. Cruz 101 will be transformed into Her Majesty's Gay Ship and they have lined up performances from Urban Cookie Collective, Michelle Gayle, Lonnie Gordon and Gwen Dickie over the weekend. Poptastic have also gone for a nautical theme; their main event, Hello Sailor, features Steve Strange as DJ and takes place on August 23 at the WKD Arches beneath Piccadilly Station.
Essential never do anything on a small scale and have booked Mutya Buena, formerly of the Sugababes, Tina Cousins, Natasha Hamilton and DJs from Space in Ibiza for their party nights.
Uni-Challenge takes over the Manchester University Students' Union on August 23, with contributions from Federation, who will be back for their own party at the Ritz the following night. The same venue also hosts the grand final of Mr Gay UK on August 22.
Late addition Boy George will play a DJ set on the opening night of the Big Weekend. For women, Vanilla is hosting a mini Dykefest with Fish Tank at Alter Ego on August 23 and Climax on August 24 at Bar Rogue. If clubbing isn't your bag, there is plenty to keep you busy inside the Village. The main stage will have performances from Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Alphabeat, Four Poofs And A Piano, Client, new hotly-tipped boyband Avenue, and many more.
Cabaret and performance will take place in Sackville Park and there is plenty of browsing to be done round the markets or at the Lifestyle Expo, where charities, support groups, social societies and sporting clubs will be on hand for info and advice.
The whole shebang reaches a dignified climax with the Candlelit Vigil, which takes place in Sackville Park on August 25.
This moving tribute to those who are living with HIV or have been lost to the disease is a moment of calm amid the madness and this year promises to have a performance from Heather Small.
With all that going on, it will be a miracle if anyone makes it into work on the Tuesday.
Manchester Pride runs until Bank Holiday Monday, August 25 in venues throughout the Gay Village and across the city. For more information
click here or check out the various previews and interviews to the right.
Share your Pride pictures at our Flickr community here.
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Showing comments 1 to 15 and replies | View All
Vicky, Stockport (26/08/2005 at 10:00)
david, stockport (30/08/2005 at 14:57)
Amy, Manchester (23/09/2005 at 12:53)
More of this please. What the point in having such a great set-up if you're not going to use it?
steve, manchester (25/08/2006 at 12:31)
Ian, Manchester City Centre (26/08/2006 at 10:06)
Come on - have a fun weekend and support operation fundraiser - it's the only pride organisation in the uk that continually raises money for charity year after year! (nearly half a million pounds raised over 3 years!)
Have fun girls and guys - I know I will!
rice, manchester (26/08/2006 at 20:17)
ex-pat, london (26/08/2006 at 22:37)
To say I was ashamed, is a little short of the truth.
The town that gave me everything, now leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
How can it be that a couple are refused entry to a night club, as they are not gay?
As soon as my fiancee was seen, we were told "gays only".
The club, Mutz Nutz.
The night, Pop-tastic on Saturday.
I reported this to the council, to be told that after September, this sort of behaviour will be illegal.
Where did it all go wrong?
Six years ago, Canal Street was the most vibrant place in the UK.
Now, it's a place that harbours "disgust".
Don't get me wrong, taking in the old clubs was the best. But getting refused to a club for being straight, was the worst.
Shame on Manchester, and how dare the council continue with the "Pride" festival.
Celebrating bigotry, it's saddening.
I'm ashamed of my home town. Of the people who have let this cancer grow.
I just hope that the bigotry that I am told is now the norm, is eradicated and that the council and police work together to rid the town of such attitudes.
Peter Warrender, Haverfordwest (28/08/2006 at 18:16)
Its a pity the world of today cannot capture a drop of it. Well done everybody.See you next year Love to you all Pete and Linda x x from south west Wales
Brian, Manchester (30/08/2006 at 18:21)
Mike S, Manchester (17/08/2007 at 10:56)
Until then, I'm more than happy with the status quo. In any event, management usually have absolute right of entrance, they just have to tell the doorstaff to say "no thank you", as opposed to "no, because you're not gay" and there's nothing one can do about it.
Finally, I also agree with the rip-off comments. Half a million quid in 3 years? Nearly half a million people come every year, so that works out at roughly 33p per person per year going to charity. How generous, considering my entrance band alone cost £15 last year!
Demand82 (17/08/2007 at 11:46)
If you go to the Northern Quater, the Locks, and most of the decent clubs in town, no one would give you and your partner a second look.
Manchester is one of the most tolerant cities for gay people in the UK, if not the most, apart from the odd person.
The gay people hating straights in the village are only perpetuating the divide between gays and straights.
J Green (18/08/2007 at 10:07)
Too many years have now gone by where we have all seen the steady increase of pricing, whether it be drinks, entrance to bars/ clubs etc.
harshie, Manchester (23/08/2007 at 23:41)
It's only once a year, chill out, watch the people go by, and enjoy the atmosphere . .!
Michael Coleman (24/08/2007 at 15:25)
Popstarz the club that kicked started the gay indie scene across the globe over 12 years ago is coming to Manchester for the first time in ten years.
Tommy Turntables and the popstarz gang are bringing their three rooms of London craziness and stuffing it inside the Ritz club for an end of Pride 'Carnival'. The popstarz DJ's are joined by Manchester's own Anthony Crank, the gorgeous gay TV presenter and host for BBC Manchester's breakfast Show.
Alongside their blend of indie and pop tunes there's a rare live performance from flame haired beauty Siobhan Donaghy (ex Sugababes). Siobhan's new LP 'Ghosts' has just come out and is receiving critical acclaim as one music journalist wrote "this is like listening to a lost Kate Bush album, its a perfect mix of pop and indie". Listen to the title tracks 'Ghosts', Siobhan sings it backwards! It's unbelievable!
And if that's not enough there's free side stalls and freebies galore including giant space invaders and make over corner.
The fun starts at 10pm on Sunday 26th August, queue jump tickets on sale from selected bars on Canal St and from the pre party at axm. Most drinks are just £2 and tickets are just £7/£8.
More info at www.popstarz.org
jwm (25/08/2007 at 21:14)