Saara Aalto joins Northern Pride Festival line-up

X FACTOR finalist and Dancing on Ice star Saara Aalto will invite fans to Let It Go at one of the UK’s largest free LGBT+ festivals this summer.

THE Northern Pride Festival returns to Newcastle’s Town Moor and Exhibition Park from July 19-21, with a string of top acts performing across the weekend.

Singer-songwriter Saara Aalto who established herself as one to watch in her home country of Finland after finishing runner-up on shows The Voice and Finland’s Got Talent and voicing Princess Anna in the Finnish version of Disney’s Frozen, will be joining the line-up on Pride Saturday.

Saara rose to fame in the UK in 2016 when she reached the finals of The X Factor, going on to sign a worldwide deal with Warner Music, release her debut international album, Wild Wild Wonderland, and represent Finland at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest.

Ste Dunn, chair of Northern Pride, said: “We are delighted to have Saara Aalto joining a fantastic line-up on Saturday and I’m sure she will put on an amazing show.”

“We have some incredible performers taking to the stage over the weekend and this year’s festival is looking to be one of our best yet.”

X Factor’s Fleur East will be headlining the Manchester Airport Los Angeles Stage on Saturday, while noughties favourites Liberty X will be taking top billing the following day.

Fans can also enjoy performances from acts including Janice Robinson, Jaymi Hensley, Marcella Woods, Katherine Ellis, Baby D, Michael Rice and Sonia across the weekend.

Northern Pride Festival is spread across two locations this year, with the Festival Arena taking place at the Town Moor and the Community Village setting up at nearby Exhibition Park.

The Festival Arena will be home to the main stage, fun fair and platinum bar, while the Community Village will house the Rainbow Village, Curious Arts Stage, Health and Wellbeing Zone and Family and Youth Zone.

The festival is free to attend, but Platinum Passes are available to purchase for those looking to secure a prime viewing position close to the stage, along with access to a dedicated bar area and toilets.