While the world-famous Manchester Pride takes place on the late-August Bank Holiday Weekend, Greater Manchester reinforces its deep history of pioneering inclusivity and progressiveness with an enormous selection of local festivals throughout the summer, all in celebration of equality, acceptance and the tireless work of LGBT+ people around the region.
From the official worldwide Pride Month of June to the end of August, here are some of the best alternative and local Pride events happening around Manchester this year.
On Fri 25 Aug, Man Met’s Business School hosts a symposium honouring the importance and influence of LGBTQ+ communities within the beautiful game. Across two timeslots, a panel of contributors including Bonnyrigg Rose FC’s Zander Murray, social media personalities Mikey Conor and Jake Williamson, fan leaders from LGBTQ+ supporters’ groups and more gather to discuss modern and historical game-changers, the queer joy of Manchester’s clubs and the growth of trans-inclusive football.
Across Pride Weekend, Nell’s at Kampus put on a pizza-packed extravaganza featuring an LGBTQ+ Friday night dance party with Atalaya and queer DJ collective Kiss Me Again, a ticketed Love Party hosted by the Kiss Me Again team on Saturday and a live Gaydio recording – with rumoured celebrity interviews – on Sunday afternoon.
Taking over the People’s History Museum on Pride Sunday, Lululemon invites Manchester to ‘show up, show out and show love’ with a complimentary fitness event promising a high-energy sweat session and ‘restorative sound bath’, as well as a few goodies thrown in for participants, from 10am-1pm.
From Fri 25 to Mon 28 Aug, Afflecks celebrates Manchester Pride with an exhaustive roster of activities, art and discounts.
Decorated from basement to attic for the occasion, Manchester’s world-famous indie retail emporium launches a community micro-gallery exhibition on Fri 25 Aug featuring local artists’ work on this year’s Pride theme, ‘Queerly Beloved – love, acceptance and the celebration of LGBTQIA+ inclusivity’, while Egoiste runs an exclusive pop up gallery created by the prodigiously talented Baiba Auria and SWALK Creative unveils window art on the second floor from Mon 21 Aug.
Across the weekend, several vendors offer a variety of unmissable discounts on food, frink and clothes, including 25% off all items (excl. jewellery) at Vintage Wardrobe, 10% off art both instore and online from Egoiste (use code PRIDELOVE10) and a 15% discount on irresistible vegan fusion dumplings from Afflecks’ new trader, Desert Island Dumplings, when guests show the rainbow Pride flag. The recently opened plant-based street food joint also kicks off their Pride celebrations with a greatest hits hour of ‘lady-loving anthems’ on the Friday afternoon, followed by a Queer Quiz with City & Bloom from 1pm on Saturday.
On Sun 27, Beg, Steal & Borrow’s beloved Swap Shop invites visitors to trade in their pre-loved wares for new treasures.
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Tue 22 Aug 2023
Taking place on Thu 24, Sat 26 and Sun 27 August, the Trafford Centre’s Pride programme offers a variety of inclusive, family-friendly activities to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and raise money for the Manchester Pride charity.
Throughout the afternoon across three days, guests of all ages are invited to the Summer Daze outdoor area to try rainbow kite-making, glitter face-painting, live music and more, with makeovers on hand thanks to Claire’s Accessories.