Totally Devoted To Pride!

SAM | 2nd September 2015

Sarah Harding performing with her dancers at Manchester Pride. Photo by Stephen Farrell.

Wow, what a Big Weekend. It was another incredible year for the organisers of Manchester Pride when the city demonstrated to the world its devotion to celebrating all things LQBT.

The festival has been championing gay rights for 25 years and boy, the message was loud and clear throughout the four day event!

Here we take a look back at some of the highlights from the weekend as we nurse our hangovers.

On opening night, Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist La Voix warmed up the crowds before a good friend of VIVA’s, Adio and his band Bipolar Sunshine, took to the stage with a cover of Tears for Fears’ Mad World.

Scottish pop-rockers Texas were up next and belted out classics Halo, Say What You Want and Black Eyed Boy, before entertaining the crowds with some of their new music.

A carnival atmosphere filled Manchester’s jam packed streets on Saturday as thousands of spectators watched the outrageously fabulous people who took part in this year’s parade, led by Lord of the Rings actor Sir Ian McKellen.

More than 2,500 took part in the parade itself with more than 100 entries from small community groups and large organisations showing support for LGBT community.

Sir Ian McKellen also took to the stage later that day to deliver a moving speech – reminding us of our reasons for celebrating – along with hotty Keegan Hirst, the first ever professional rugby player to come out as gay. The cast of Corrie showed their support too.

A diverse mixture of pop acts took to the stage that afternoon. Kicking it off in true Miss Manchester style Rowetta took to the stage with her dancers wearing a stunning feathered rainbow coloured dress. Sarah Harding belted out Girls Aloud classics like Love Machine and proved critics wrong by singing her own material while looking hot in red cat suit.

Alesha Dixon delivered an acoustic mix of Mis-Teeq songs along with some solo material.

DJ Fresh closed the arena that night with an insane mix of his greatest hits with classic remixes of I Will Survive and Sweet Dreams Are Made of This.

The atmosphere could only be described as electric, a climax to the rest of the specialist club nights happening throughout the weekend, such as the spectacle lazers and deep house in the Gaydio tent or the full on show presented by WE team on at Manchester Academy.

Atomic Kitten performed Sunday, without third member Natasha Hamilton, who is currently amid hectic times in the Big Brother House.

Little Boots and Stooshe performed too, although it was headliner Dannii Minogue who stole the show with an eye catching set. Danni dazzled the crowd with a megamix of camp classics wearing a pink cat suit.

The rain certainly didn’t dampen spirits on Monday. Former X Factor stars Lucy Spraggan and Union J took to the stage to draw the event to a close.

The culmination of the Big Weekend was the George House Trust Candlelit Vigil, where thousands gathered in Sackville Gardens to remember those lost to the HIV virus and lit a candle in memory.