Alternative Manchester Pride Festival announced for August bank holiday
Graham Robson
Manchester Pride has announced it will be delivering three days of celebrations for LGBTQ+ people over the August bank holiday weekend – Saturday, August 29, Sunday, August 30 and Monday, August 31.
The Alternative Manchester Pride Festival 2020 will feature free content that can be enjoyed by those who wish to celebrate from the safety of their own homes.
Delivered online in partnership with United We Stream Greater Manchester, the Saturday will be filled with content inspired by the Festival’s Manchester Pride Live event. United We Stream was launched in April by Night-Time Economy Adviser Sacha Lord and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), has played host to artists such as Melanie C, Elbow and New Order whilst raising £477,000 for local charities and good causes.
Manchester Pride will curate a series of live performances and DJ sets with a number of special guests and partners alongside some legacy performances from previous events and a very special presentation of the Manchester Pride Parade for 2020. The content will then be available again on Sunday for anyone that missed it.
Sunday will see the activity move to YouTube with a programme curated by the charity’s Superbia and Youth Pride MCR teams. Viewers can expect arts and cultural content alongside content designed by 14+ young people for 14+ young people as a result of the Youth Pride MCR workshops which launched in April.
Monday will close the festival as always with a moment of reflection at the Candlelit Vigil. Manchester Pride will stream the vigil online so that as many people as possible can be part of it. It will also be broadcast on BBC Radio Manchester and Gaydio.
A new element to the festival, at a time when it is more important than ever to keep certain conversations going, the charity is introducing a Human Rights Forum to explore some of the vital issues at the moment such as Trans Rights and BAME issues.
Over the coming weeks there will be opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community to contribute and add their voice to the celebrations through photos, videos and more.
Mark Fletcher, chief executive for Manchester Pride, said: ‘I want to thank all of our partners and supporters that are pulling together to help us deliver this year’s alternative festival. From community groups to partners such as Gaydio, Hits Radio, BBC Radio Manchester, United We Stream, Manchester City Council, GMCA and a special thanks to Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Holidays and each of our other sponsors who are supporting this vital activity.
‘Our Festival enables us to help LGBTQ+ people, organisations and charities and without the support of ticket buyers and sponsors we will not be able to continue this work. I ask that over the weekend anyone who can, does donate, because we must continue our work in supporting LGBTQ+ people across Greater Manchester. The conversation must, and will, continue…’
Sacha Lord from United We Stream, added: ‘We are really pleased to bring United We Stream back online for Manchester Pride’s alternative festival. The Festival is a huge part of our city and we know how much LGBTQ+ people across Greater Manchester will miss it. I know we can deliver a brilliant alternative which will hopefully also raise loads of money for the charity to continue its vital work into 2021.’
Those wishing to donate to Manchester Pride can do so through the charity’s Just Giving page or donate £3 to Manchester Pride by texting MCRPRIDE to 70450. Texts cost £3 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about its work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. Those who would like to give £3 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text MCRPRIDENOINFO to 70450.
