Top pride festivals 2021

A Guide to The Top Pride Festivals in The North

June marks Pride Month in the UK and across the world. A month dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ communities and a time for awareness and people coming together in love and friendship.

And there’s no better way to celebrate than by going to a Pride festival or parade. Across the North there are usually plenty of ways to show your support, let your hair down and ultimately have a fun day out. We’re talking small yet spectacular celebrations to huge street parades and parties throughout the summer. But while some of this year’s events have had to switch to being online, that isn’t stopping the party. Here’s our roundup of the top Pride festivals to put on your agenda this year.

Pride in Hull

When: July 2021 (dates yet to be released)

One of the best free Pride events in East Yorkshire takes place in Hull and it often attracts up to 50,000 visitors with its vibrant parade and lively activity schedule.

Pride in Hull has taken a hit from the pandemic. Usually, it would be held at the end of July at locations across the city; however, in 2021 it will be going exclusively online. The full line-up of virtual events has yet to be released, but you can expect them to be loads of fun! Pride in Hull is also planning a big celebration for 2022 to mark 20 years since the event first began.

Northern Pride, Newcastle 

When: Saturday 24th July

Newcastle’s annual Pride festival is one of the city’s most anticipated events! It usually takes place at the end of July at the Town Moor and features a whole range of exciting activities, from live music and drag shows to food stalls and fairground rides.

This year’s Northern Pride has been moved entirely online and will be hosted by fashion guru Gok Wan and local Newcastle drag queen legend Miss Rory. Highlights of the Northern Pride 2.1 Online festival will include virtual drag performances, art competitions and loads of incredible music streamed via Northern Pride’s Facebook page, YouTube channel or on Pride Radio. Tune in on the 24th of July!

Durham Pride

When: Saturday 31^st July

This annual Pride festival held in Durham has been running since 2014 and was first attended by around 2,500 people with the aim of growing LGBTQ+ visibility in County Durham. Fast forward to 2019 and it had grown to 25,000 attendees.

With no event in 2020, this year’s Durham Pride is scheduled to take place in person at the end of July. Although the full line up has yet to be announced, we reckon it’s one not to be missed this year.

Manchester Pride

When: Friday 27th August – Monday 30th August

Manchester Pride is perhaps the best-known Pride event outside of London and Brighton. This year, most of its epic events are set to take place in the flesh, although some of the finer details are still yet to be confirmed.

The three-day event typically attracts visitors from across the globe and is famous for its amazing musical line-ups, with past headliners including Ariana Grande and Years & Years. One of the main events of the weekend is the Manchester Pride Parade, a colourful and inclusive procession which takes over the streets of the City Centre and Gay Village.

Manchester’s Pride festival additionally incorporates a whole range of outreach activities aimed at educating the wider community about LGBTQ+ issues. The majority of the money from the festival’s ticketed events also goes towards supporting the Manchester Pride Charity whose sole aim is to improve the lives of the LGBTQ+ community across Greater Manchester.

Travelling to a Pride event by train in 2021? Remember to check the current coronavirus government guidelines on travel beforehand. If you can, try to travel during off-peak times and buy tickets in advance to book a seat. And remember, when you’re ready to get going, we’re here for you.