Bristol Pride Festival is another event that the city hasn't hosted for two years due to COVID. And the parade, which saw 18,000 people take part in 2019, has certainly been missed.
Excitingly, this year it will be back, taking place on Pride Day on Saturday, July 9, ahead of the festival on the Downs. Crowds will again gather in Castle Park before making their way through the city centre and onwards to the harbourside.
This year’s march will be incredibly poignant, as not only is it the chance to bring the community back together but it also marks the 50th anniversary of the first Pride march to take place in the UK. The parade is happening at a time when discussions continue on a full ban on conversation therapy and as the government reviews the Human Rights Act.
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The parade provides the opportunity for all to remember that while progress has been made, the LGBTQI+ community still have to keep fighting for equal rights for all, and ensure that hard-fought rights are not only maintained but furthered. As well as a protest for equality and inclusion, the march is an opportunity for people to come together to proudly celebrate members of the community.
All are invited to turn up and show their support. And there's no need to register - you just need to show up, bring a sign if you want and get involved.
The parade will gather at Castle Park from 10am and will depart at 10.45am, the entire route is approximately two miles long and will take about one hour to complete. This year, Bristol Pride is a walking parade meaning that no vehicles or floats are allowed in the parade due to the nature of the route, health and safety and to support reduced city centre emissions.
The full route can be found on the map below:
The route is step-free and the organisers have made effort to reduce the number of hills involved. However, it is noted that those with restricted mobility or wheelchair users may struggle with the loop around Cabot Circus, due to a steep incline up Union Street, but this can be minimised by carrying along Newgate and joining the parade again at the end of Wine Street for the final section towards the Amphitheatre.
Those wishing to go from the parade to the festival on the Downs can utilise the pre-arranged quick shuttle service, picking up from the end of the parade which will run throughout the day to and from the Downs. First Buses 1,2,3 and 4 also run to The Downs, with the bus running from the Cenotaph or from College Green.
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