The Pride of the resort is here

The resort's in the pink this weekend as thousands throng into Blackpool for this year's Pride Festival.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Jun 2016, 11:52 GMT
Updated 13th Jun 2016, 12:48 GMT
Bianco del RioBianco del Rio
Bianco del Rio

It’s become a major event spanning various stages and fringe events.

The outside stage is sponsored by Houndshill Shopping Centre, and a main stage will present, among others, Reggie and Bollie, S Club and Kieran Richardson from Hollyoaks.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There’s also a ‘women’s area’ with live entertainment, sponsored by Horizon; an Over 18’s area with adult performers and a youth and family area, sponsored by the Sandcastle Waterpark, which also includes this year’s Pride’s Got Talent! New this year is a large Trans area. The main sponsor Blackpool BID is helping grow the festival into one of the resort’s annual tour de forces.

Jodie HarshJodie Harsh
Jodie Harsh

Additionally, there are more than 20 commercial and 40 community and charity stalls, all providing a wide range of allied merchandise and information.

The Pride Parade proper starts at the Sandcastle Waterpark at 11am on Saturday - and will make its way along the Prom towards St Johns Square in front of the Winter Gardens for the opening ceremony.

Tomorrow night the winner of season six of Rupauls’ drag race, Miss Bianca Del Rio, comes to wow resort audiences at the Flamingo as Freak Chic presents the LA drag queen, creation of American actor Roy Haylock, ahead of her world comedy tour Not Today Satan. Promoter John Anthoney says: “I’m thrilled to have someone of that calibre in our pride weekend celebrations. The buzz around town is phenomenal.” The Climax hits the Winter Gardens on Saturday with big name club DJs including Liverpool’s The Vivienne (RuPaul drag ambassador) and Jodie Harsh.

Related topics:PrideBlackpool