MANCHESTER showed the world how to party as city's Pride 2005 festival turned the streets into a riot of colour, sound and fabulous outfits this weekend. More than 200,000 people watched the parade that has become the highlight of the annual ten-day celebration of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender culture.
Then a crowd 45,000 revellers got-together for 78-hours of partying in the village - with a series of fun events for everyone.
The so-called Big Weekend included a mass blessing and engagement party for couples intending to make their vows through new Civil Partnership laws in December.
Stars on the festival's AXM main stage included Graham Norton, Four Puffs and a Piano, the Cheeky Girls and Rowetta.
But highlight of the festival was the Key 103 Manchester Pride Parade, which burst into life on Saturday afternoon.
Revellers
Thousands of people lined the streets to cheer on more than 80 floats filled with revellers in bizarre and fabulous costumes.
Hundreds of whistles competed with blaring pop music and samba drums. There were men in frocks with big moustaches, sailor boys with blow-up dolphins and bare-chested dancers wearing tiny black hotpants.
Then there were cowboys, jugglers, acrobats, stubble-chinned nuns, a rather manly impersonator of Queen Elizabeth II and a even a pink tank.
The statue of James Fraser, the Bishop of Manchester from 1870 to 1885, stood hand on hip in Albert Square. And the driver of a tram called the Grenadier Guardsman tooted his hooter as the participants crossed Mosley Street.
The largest gathering of spectators was in the village, where they clapped and cheered the floats like an opera crowd after an encore.
This year's procession included a number of men and women from the Royal Air Force, the Army and the police.
'Fantastic'
Sgt Julie Frank from Greater Manchester Police, who was one of more than 30 police officers that took part, said: "It's been fantastic. We walked to music for the first time this year."
Among the spectators was Gerald Smyth, 71, whose son David, a paratrooper, was taking part in the parade. Mr Smyth, himself a former para and a veteran of the Suez Crisis, was wearing his regimental blazer as he stood in the crowd.
He said: "I'm really proud of my son. It's been a brilliant today."
Visitors came from across Britain and around the world to enjoy the festival. Solicitors Jonathan Woodhouse, 31, and Clare Bailey, 30, travelled from Middlesbrough for the event.
Mr Woodhouse, who was wearing a pink cowboy hat, said: "I went to London Pride last year and Manchester was even better than that. "I particularly enjoyed seeing all the uniforms. There was a good mix of trannies and hunky musclemen."
Fountain of love
There were markets, rides, information on community groups and health and safety, plus a chocolate fountain of love. Those interested in the history of Manchester's gay community could go on a heritage trail and there has also been a film festival and a series of sporting events called the PrideGames.
Organisers say the festival, which was recently named Tourism Experience of the Year, was even bigger and better this year.
The closing event will be a candlelit vigil to celebrate the lives of those affected by HIV.
It was taking place in Sackville Park at 9pm tonight.
Tell us your Pride experiences! Have your say.
Take at look at the pick of parade pictures, in our Pride Gallery.
Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
ALL I CAN SAY TO THIS WONDERFUL EVENT IS BE LOAD AND PROUD....AND U AV WELL DONE ....BE BACK NEXT YEAR WITH LOVE 2 SHARE X
What a refreshing day ! After all the horrors, tragedies and uncertainty of the last year it was genuinely uplifting to witness and join in the sheer joy and fun of the parade.
Even those suffering hiv gave a positive outlook to the world - and left most of us humbled as we contemplate our own problems.
To all the people who joined in, watched, enjoyed - well done.
Thank you
Peter
WHAT A FANTASTIC DAY, WELL DONE MANCHESTER, CANT WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR.X.
What a superb event. It was well worth the trip across the Pennines. Thank you for the hospitality of the City of Manchester and the wonderful people we met.
The Pride weekend is something the City can quite rightly be very proud of!!
Very entertaining day - I hope this shows that society's nasty homophobic views are well and truly in the minority, and that gay people feel much more able to be themselves in public. Well done to all the organisers, it went very well indeed for such a large event.
Brought my 77 year old Mother in Law over from the IOW to see the Parade. Well done to all the organisers, we had a fantastic day. Brilliant parade and atmosphere. Congratulations.
This is only the 2nd pride I've been to in 10 years of living in Manchester. Last time I went (about 3 years ago) I found it faintly embarrasing. This time however I felt it was much better organised, had some really professional floats and promoted a much more positive and normal view of being gay - we're in the police, we're in in the army and we're part of the normal fabric of society. I was also pleased that just about everything was suitable for for families - we sometimes forget that people bring their kids along too, so it the parade should be appropriate for that kind of audience.
Sgt Frank is an officer dedicated to gay and lesbian matters. It's pathetic. We have so much crime on our streets but we have plenty of money to fund people like this who do abosolutely no police work. Get a grip England!! Gays and Lesbians is not a new thing. Live and let live but I do wish gays would stop bleating on about it. Being gay makes you no more special than me!
Looks like all had a ball! Missed this years festival out here in spain, yet another year how the manchester people put on a show stopper to the world. Keep it up manchester!
The Boys
I have been to Pride a few times in the city and this year was the first I have actually been involved in now I am living here in Manchester. I am a volunteer and have been fundraising all week and also collected money on the parade.
Seeing the crowds faces and hearing the cheers of over 200,000 people was overwhelming at times for me and my friends collecting on the parade. As a gay man of 33 I have never felt so liberated and equal and accepted by society. A truly fantastic feeling to experience and makes fundraising each week so worth while.
The candle light vigil last night to close the whole weekends celebration was very fitting and reminds us all of the challenges that still face us everyday.
I Was invited to come to the festival to watch some of the performances on the big week end AXM main stage, i also brought my family with me, as i am not from the gay community i got a mixed reaction from friends when i told them where i was going, can i first say what a refreshing change to how people enjoy themselves with total relaxation and with no aggresion or fighting / foul mouthed drunks, i would like to say a big thankyou to the gay and lesbian community for giving me and my family one of the best days out we have had in a long time, finaly their was a group on called C22, my daughter was asking who they were as they sung some good music and the crowd seemed to give a great response, but no-one had heard of them, can your office help? where do they come from?!
once again thank you manchester pride!
It was my 8th Manchester Pride this year (WOAH AM I GETTING OLD NOW!!) and my best yet, what a fantastic weekend.Thanks to everyone who made it what it was and showing the world that Manchester has the best Gay Community who sure do know how to party!!
Coming up from London and not knowing Manchester we weren't sure what to expect. (you get brainwashed into thinking London is so open minded and has the biggest and best of everything) NOT SO!!! I was awstruck by how huge, varied and well organised it was! Roll on next year!!! It is the friendliest, most fun party on earth too!
My wife and I drove up from South West Wales for the parade. It was worth every minute of the 6 hour journey. We really enjoyed every moment of the parade. A fantastic event, the ones who organised and took part should pat themselves on the back for such a brilliant, artistic display full of love and happiness shared by everyone. Well done. Cant wait till next year. Thank you Pete and Linda x x x
from reading the comments here, i note not one was against this depraved parade, so there you have it one comment from someone who despises the whole gay thing in manchester.