Bury Pride

Pop icon Toyah Willcox is the headline attraction on this colourful occasion which features music, food, entertainment and a walking rainbow through the town centre.

Tickets for Bury Pride are free and are available at www.bury.gov.uk/BuryPride, where you can also download the Pride Programme with all the information about the sponsors and the activities during the day.

The main stage, outside Bury Town Hall:

Headlining will be Toyah Willcox who will be performing with a full band. The outdoor stage will also host the Manchester Gay and Lesbian Chorus, Divas in Denial, Laura Jane Butler as Amy Winehouse and fire eaters Utopia UK, all compered by our host Miss Sal Ford.

On Knowsley Street there will be food and drink stalls, glitter stencilling, the official Pride merchandise stall, plus the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Pride Pump, the Pride Ambulance and Greater Manchester Police’s Pride Car.

The acoustic stage, in the Elizabethan Suite:

A number of local bands will play ‘unplugged’ sets in the main hall, as well as the Manchester Gay and Lesbian Chorus, Freak Dance and Class Act, all between 11am and 4pm.

Food stalls will offer such culinary delights such as Freak Shakes, Rainbow cakes and Rainbow fudge.

In the Balcony Bar, the emphasis is on gin, with the chance to sample a variety of gin cocktails and visit the ‘Pimp my Prosecco’ Bar.

And in Peel Room, Bury Art Gallery hosts a selection of Drag Kings and Queens invited to sit for still life drawing, as well as performances throughout the day.

The Walking Rainbow Parade, through the town centre:

This Carnival themed walk will be full of colour, music, a samba band and floats, and will be led by the Mayor of Bury, Councillor Dorothy Gunther, accompanied by Mr Wilson’s Second Liners.

The parade will leave the town hall at 1pm and head up to The Rock, returning via the Mill Gate centre and Bury Market.

Councillor Rishi Shori, leader of Bury Council, said: “The first walking rainbow parade in Bury took place six years ago, arranged by the POG ‘Proud of Gayness’ youth group. The event has gone from strength to strength since then and Bury Pride is sure to become an annual celebration of equality and diversity.

“While the need to raise awareness of LGBTQ issues is important, Bury Pride is also a great excuse to have fun, and the support from the local community and beyond has been tremendous.”

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