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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Adam Maidment

Manchester Pride 2022: Friday night brings a jubilant start to a weekend of celebrations

Manchester Pride kicked off last night in true party style - with plenty of cowboy hats, pups, and celebrations to be seen.

The four-day celebration launched with an extravagant celebration of trans artists and performers in Sackville Gardens, while many of the Gay Village's bars held their own parties. With the sunshine making a much-welcomed appearance, the village was packed to ensure the celebration started as it meant to go on.

This year's main Pride stages will all be held within the Village, making a change from previous years as organisers aim to bring the event back to its roots.

READ MORE: This Vietnamese cafe hiding in plain sight deserves queues out of the door

Today, the Parade comes back to the city centre for the first time since 2019 with a march for peace, which will see thousands take to the streets as a pretty procession of floats and marchers embrace the spirit of Pride.

There will also be a day of music and live entertainment, with local performers, drag queens and the one and only Nadine Coyle taking to the stage.

To find out today's stage times, click here.

Kicking off Manchester Pride last night, CEO Mark Fletcher said this year's Pride was more important than ever. He told the M.E.N : "“This is a time when we really need to come together in solidarity and take to the streets, remembering the parties who have won - we have fought for this. But the protest continues, because we march in solidarity with those who are less privileged than us.

“It’s been three years since we’ve been able to take to the streets and march for our freedoms and we are so thrilled to be back out there, and I want to hear a big cheer, because this year we have a Manchester Pride parade. The theme for this year is peace and everyone has their own interpretation of peace - what it means for you individually, what it means for us collectively and what it is we’re striving for.”

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