Pride proved to be bigger and better than last year. People from all over Manchester came together in order to celebrate our own rights or our friend’s and family’s rights to live without persecution. 

  

This year’s theme was … The Circus of Acceptance! The whole of Manchester’s gay village went all out with clubs and bars decorated from top to bottom in circus themed decorations. 

 

New York New York bar had definitely won best themed bar with it looking like an actual Funhouse. 

 

Friday night saw the opening of Pride with huge star Jake Shears performing. The crowds loved it! What a brilliant start to the big weekend.  

 

Flags were raised and proudly showed off their colours before the start of the parade. Everyone joined together to see some of the hugest floats be drove down from the Town Hall, right past Manchester’s Gay Village.  

 

The roads filled with children’s laughter and adult smiles which gleamed through the sun.  

 

Businesses from all over Manchester joined the parade to honour their LGBT customers. What a time it is to be LGBT.  

 

This time there was more than 150 floats with thousands of people attending.  

 

Saturday night had fashionista Gok Wan presenting at the Thomas Cook Airlines Stage with Girls Aloud member Nadine Coyle performing. Sigala and Disciples joined the stage with their best hits being blasted out all over the car park.

 

The people all over the village were dressed down in bright colours and glitter to honour the Pride Rainbow Flag.  

 

Colour. Colour. Colour. That’s what the gay village was full of. Not even the down pours from the sky was going to stop people from partying.

 

The Gaydio dance stage brought back the silent disco. Everyone joined in putting the Beats headphones on and enjoying some great tunes from talented DJ’s.  

 

Had an amazing @ManchesterPride thanks to everyone at @KIKIManchester1, @TheOxnoble, Richmond Street Tea Dance (@IconicBarMCR) and @EvaManchester1 ??????? pic.twitter.com/3xl6kwunzA

— Martin Turner (@djmartint) 28 August 2018

Sunday Night saw headliner Rita Ora perform. She performed hits “Hot Right Now” and “Black Widow”  and many more in her beautiful dazzling outfit.  

 

“WHO WANTS TO BE NORMAL?” the pop star screamed, with a cheer shouted back from the crowd to acknowledge their difference and uniqueness.  

 

Former American Idol Finalist and Drag star Todrick Hall joined the stage performing his hits “Dem Beats” and “Low” while also getting into the spirit of pride by dressing up in Drag. The YouTube sensation has proved to be very artistic when it comes to his Drag.  

 

A blast from the past saw Samantha Mumba return to the stage performing and getting everyone involved with her singing. Oh, how we have missed Samantha Mumba! 

 

Drag acts all over the village saw Drag at its best and most raw. Kings and Queens roamed around to prove that they are royalty.  

 

Monday night finished with X Factor winner Alexandra Burke who got the crowds joining in singing to her “Bad Boys”.  

 

Lucy Spraggan who has performed before at Pride returned to support all of her LGBT brothers and sisters.  

 

An emotional end to Pride came with The Candle Lit Vigil which honours those who lost their lives to the HIV virus. It proved to be more popular than ever this year with cues going all around the village to get in to Sackville Gardens.  

 

Those who went gave their thoughts and prayers to those who have lost their lives. The Manchester Gay and Lesbian chorus sang with headliner Alexandra Burke while candles lit up the heavens.

 

Former Mayor Carl Austin Behan along with many others gave speeches in the hope that one day their will be a cure for HIV/AIDS.

 

Pride has proved to be so much more than just drinking. It’s a time to celebrate that everything is possible. 51 years on and the LGBT community has come such a long way.  

 

Remember to hold your head high, grip harder onto your partners hand, wear those bright colours and most of all, be you.  

 

Here’s to another Pride next year and here’s to having Pride all year long in ourselves.  

 

Be proud to be a Mancunian!