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Well, unless you’ve just come back from Uranus, you can’t have missed the fact that this month there are no less than four Yorkshire Pride events happening: Leeds on Sunday 5th, Wakefield on Sunday 12th and Doncaster (South Yorks) and York, both on Sunday the 19th.
Following hot on the heels of The Pink Picnic at the end of last month - and coming before Bradford’s Pride in September, not to mention Manchester Pride at the end of August - this year’s local events all promise to be bigger and better than last year’s. Although whether you’ll ever want to set eyes on a fellow homo again after all this overdosing on gayness is another matter...
Leeds
The organisers of the second Leeds Pride are putting the final touches to the party of the year.
For you early birds Religion will be opening its doors from 10am - not for Sunday Mass but a fantastic and stylish champagne breakfast. For those who want an earlier start to Leeds Pride you can join the drag queens, Viadykes and Mr Gay UK finalists at The Viaduct as they prepare themselves for the parade - doors open for a special Pride breakfast from 8am.
12 noon sees Millennium Square play host to thousands of revellers as they are entertained by the cream of local and national talent before the largest lgbt parade in Yorkshire. Amongst the fabulous floats and crowds sashaying down the Headrow expect to see Pussy Galore, Plenty O’Toole and the occasional Mr Big as participants kick open their closet doors and don their best James Bond outfits!
There’s an accessible minibus for people who need assistance over part or the whole of the parade route and a male and female personal assistants will be available from 12-3pm. The speeches and entertainment in Millennium Square will have BSL interpretation. There’s also an all-weather market and community space and crèche facilities with limited, prebookable spaces. Access details to the local gay venues can be found on the Leeds Pride web site with details of all acts and events.
Then it time to party, party, party! Queens Court, Fibre and Homo join forces once again to host the notorious Leeds Pride Garden Party; Religion has Heaven DJ Chris Reardon.
By day Club Mission will be hosting the market and community area but by night it will have transformed into the venue for Queer Kandi a unique mix of two top international club nights, Federation and Hed Kandi.
Xibit and The Viaduct are the cabaret and show bars for Leeds Pride, both boasting outdoor BBQs.
Over at The Viaduct, Anna-Glypta will be the hostess wanting the mostess as she oversees a special Leeds Pride ‘Spit Roast Sunday’. Not to be outdone The Bridge presents Miss Orry.
If it’s cheesy, camp dance you’re looking for then its the ever popular New Penny.
Wakefield
The plans for the main event in the Cathedral Precinct on Sunday the 12th are well under way, they tell us. The main stage will be opened by the Mayor of Wakefield at 2.00pm followed by an afternoon of live entertainment. The committee are in negotiations with a well known international act for the main stage and a number of supporting acts, including local band Kolton with their eclectic collection of sounds, and DJs Miss Blanche, Madam Connie, Miss Orry, Marky Mark and Priscilla. There will be a market area of statutory and voluntary agencies, offering help and advice, and traders selling rainbow goods. The parade of floats will begin in Lower Warrengate at 6pm and the evening will close with a firework display fired high into the night sky at 10.30pm.
The Rainbow will be hosting a family-friendly beach party complete with tons of sand, karaoke, cocktails and hot food served all day. Bar Zeus and the newly-refurbished Odyssey will be open all day for cool tunes and even cooler refreshments and have top entertainers planned for the evening, hosted by the effervescent icons of Wakefield, Madam Connie and Miss Orry.
The ever popular New Union has a sound stage outside and has so far confirmed that the line up includes fab drag act Claire Chanel, comedienne Adrian James, ex-Funny Girls Miss Priscilla, local covers band, Kolton, and male stripper, all hosted by the New Union’s in-house DJ Marky Mark. The New Union are also having a free BBQ, giveaways and much more.’
York
Pride in the Park York is go!
‘This year’s picnic will start at 1pm in Rowntree Park on Sunday 19th and what a day we have planned,’ they say. ‘The ever-popular dog show will be making a return this time with bigger and better categories and prizes, so bring your pampered pooches. The lovely lads from the Yorkshire Terriers football team will be bringing a little muscle and inviting us to join them in a kickabout. At the other end of the field the York Rotters will be available for all your wormery and composting needs! And if that doesn't fulfil all your needs in a Pride picnic (how could it not?) then you can mosey on over to the entertainment stage where local artists Chris Dye and Jess Gardham will be performing among a bevy of other talents.
‘Before making your way to the after-party at the Little John pub - York’s new gay venue - you might want to pick up a few bargains or chocolate treats from our commercial stalls. From 6-ish food will be provided in a friendly atmosphere at the Little John. For a mere £2 you will be able to carry on celebrating into the night.
‘The day looks set to be a fantastic opportunity for the lgbt communities of York and beyond to get together and have fun. So bring your friends, family, dogs, a bottle and a picnic and join us. If you have nay queries about the event including accessibility please contact Ellen Hill on 01904 620 400 or e.hill@mesmac.co.uk
Bradford
Bradford Pride runs from Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th September and the planning group have been working tirelessly to provide four days of fun and frolics in various locations. ‘In addition to the raising of the rainbow flag in Centenary Square,’ they tell us excitedly, ‘there will be a Pink Market with a lesbian and gay authors book event at The Media Museum, an 80s disco at The Sun Hotel, competitions and live entertainment at Candy - to name just a few of the events. We are also looking for people to take part in a Drag-On’s Den event - we already have a full panel of local lgb business people but need more participants. For further information contact Rachel on 01274 727759.
South Yorkshire
Doncaster’s first Pride event is shaping up well for Sunday 19th August.
Running from midday through to 6pm (not to mention the after-parties at Bar-NY and The Vine!) there’s a host of family-friendly entertainment in Doncaster’s market place from the Reece Lightning Travelling Stage Show and a marketplace.
Stories from the magazine this month:
Related pages:
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