Liverpool's annual Pride event takes place in the city next weekend.
The festival will see the LGBTQ+ community and its allies come together to dance, celebrate, laugh and commemorate all that has been achieved. After last year's tragic increase of reports of homophobic and transphobic hate crimes within Liverpool, the events will make for the perfect opportunity to show how the community stands together and that hate nor bigotry will win.
Although there is still much to be confirmed about Pride in Liverpool due to a last-minute change in site, here’s everything we know so far:
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When is Pride in Liverpool?
The free festival will return on Saturday, July 30, after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
March with Pride route
The organisation responsible for delivering the celebrations, LCR Pride Foundation, announced this year's festival will move from its usual site on Tithebarn Street to Liverpool’s Pier Head. The change in location comes due to "circumstances beyond the organisation's control after it was informed that roadworks were due to start imminently on Tithebarn Street, meaning the originally planned site would not be 'not safe or viable' for the event on the day."
With the change in the festival site, comes an alternative route for the city’s annual March with Pride. It has yet to be confirmed, however, as, in previous years, the march will start from St George's Plateau. Muster will begin from around 10:30 am with the March setting off at 12pm.
Lineup and headline act
The march will end at the Pier Head, where Irish pop star, Samanatha Mumba will be headlining. The actress and TV presenter will be entertaining the crowds with her best-known 00s hit singles, including “Gotta Tell You”, “Baby Come on Over” and “Always Come Back to Your Love”. Fans can also expect to hear more recent music of Samantha’s including “Cool” and “Process”.
The Pier Head site for Pride in Liverpool will be open from noon and its stage, which has been programmed by Sound City, will spring to life from 1 pm, as the city’s March With Pride arrives at the festival site. The stage will be hosted throughout the day by Jordan Lee from Radio City and Hits Radio Pride and Jay Hynd from The Guide.
Andi Herring, CEO and co-founder of LCR Pride Foundation, said: “While a change in site so late in the planning stages of Pride in Liverpool is never ideal, the safety of those attending and working at the festival is paramount. We have a dedicated team of event professionals, suppliers and traders who have been working tirelessly to ensure that we are able to come together at the new site for the celebration that our community deserves and has been eagerly anticipating.
"Despite the change in location the event remains completely free and we are sure that Pride In Liverpool at Pier Head will be worth the wait. We are also continuing to work and support businesses in Liverpool's Pride Quarter and across the city with their plans for the day, so the whole city can show its support for our LGBT+ community. With LIMF also taking place in the city, we're expecting a busy weekend.”
He added: “We are ecstatic to have Samantha Mumba headlining this year’s Pride in Liverpool, as we finally come together to celebrate - in person - for the first time in three years. Samantha’s best-known songs contain some of the greatest choruses from the 21st century, so we’re looking forward to a hopefully sunny sing-along at the Pier Head. We have faced so many challenges in delivering our first festival since before COVID-19, but thanks to our amazing team, volunteers, suppliers and city partners we have ensured that the wait is over and we can finally come together again.”
Next week we will be bringing you all the latest on Pride in Liverpool as more details are announced.
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