The founder of Bristol Pride has thanked the 40,000 people who attended last weekend’s Pride Day celebrations. The event returned for its first full festival in two years, with record-breaking crowds on the Downs and the festival’s biggest ever line up of over 100 acts.
In addition to the events on the Downs, over 19,000 people joined the iconic Pride Parade march, which began in Castle Park and filled the city with colour. Bristol Pride founder Daryn Carter MBE, says plans are already underway for next year’s event.
“It's been an incredible year and it's been truly special to be able to bring the community back together once more. It’s been our biggest ever festival and everyone from the team, the performers and the venues have been so excited to have Pride back and to deliver the incredible event we know and love.
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“The Parade was a very special and emotional moment as we finally were able to march again after two years apart which have seen increased attacks on our community. It was amazing to see all the flags flying high.
“Pride Day on the Downs was a love letter to our community and it was great to see so many people there, of all ages, celebrating, connecting and of course enjoying amazing performances. Community remains at the heart of what Pride is and in the year where we brought the community back together, the community tent really shone with more LGBT+ organisations and support groups that ever attended the festival.”
The Pride Parade was led by Trans Pride South West, who were invited to lead the March this year after increased attacks against the community, and marched through the city centre with a record number of people from all walks of life in attendance. Bristol Pride this year marked the 50th Anniversary of the first Pride March to happen in the UK and the large turnout served to highlight the fact that Pride is still a protest needed to fight for the equality of the community.
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Following the Parade, 40,000 people attended the Pride Day celebrations on The Downs, which saw the festival’s biggest ever line-up with performances from Katrina of The Waves, huge crowds singing along to Abba Inferno, Bristol’s own Dr Meaker, Canada Drag Race winner Priyanka and headline performance from Carly Rae Jepsen, who closed the show with a bang.
The festival brought an atmosphere of joy and love to the city, which included people of all ages and offered something for everyone, including family and youth areas as well as the main stage, cabaret stage and multiple other attractions. As well as the main events on Pride weekend, Pride brought a whole host of events to the city across a two week period.
Highlights included the Pride dog show, Queervision’s film screenings and a comedy night. Plans for Bristol Pride 2023 are now underway.
Next year’s events will run from June 25 to July 9 and the Pride Day Parade and celebrations take place on Saturday July 8. More information will be released over the coming months and can be found on the website at www.bristolpride.co.uk.
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