This year’s Pride festival in Manchester has beaten the likes of Leeds and Reading Festivals and Download to claim a top award. It won the gong for Best Large Festival at this year’s UK Festival Awards.
It’s the first time that an LGBTQ+ has won in the category, coming in the year that the event returned to its full programme following lockdown, which saw its annual parade curtailed. It also saw many of its events focussing on the organisation’s origins as a protest.
Pride beat BST Hyde Park, Reading and Leeds Festival, Download Festival, TRNSMT and Isle of Wight Festival to the coveted award.
Read more: Inside Stockport's new games bar offering a hit of nostalgia
“This year's Manchester Pride Festival was co-designed with our communities, so we share this accolade with each and every one who contributed,” said Manchester Pride CEO Mark Fletcher.
“To win this means so much, given only half a century ago we still had to hide who we truly are. The work of Pride organisations and other LGBTQ+ charities isn’t over.
“Hate crimes towards our communities here in the UK have doubled in the last five years, our trans siblings have to fight just to live their lives authentically, and there are still 69 countries with laws which criminalise homosexuality.
“Manchester Pride is so much more than a Festival, it’s more than a party. Pride is a protest!”
Manchester Pride took place over the bank holiday in August, and saw the city’s gay village packed with revellers through the weekend. It included events like the human rights forum, the Gay Village party and the annual candlelit vigil.
It also saw stage takeovers from the likes of Black Pride MCR, Trans Creative and Drag Race UK winner, Danny Beard.
READ NEXT
-
Inside Stockport's new games bar offering a hit of nostalgia
-
Chef Paul Kitching has died - tributes are pouring in from the restaurant world
-
Gary Neville 'incredibly excited' as full details of new Stock Exchange Hotel brasserie announced
-
Manchester bar hits back at one-star review slamming staff for wearing crop tops
