Everything happening for Pride in Manchester this weekend

It’s the August bank holiday weekend, and Manchester’s Pride Festival is officially upon us.

Sadly, the iconic Pride Parade has been cancelled for the second year in a row as a result of Covid-19 restrictions –  but regardless of that, Manchester has still pulled it out of the bag with a ton of exciting and eclectic events happening across the city to celebrate our LGBTQ+ community.

Here’s what’s on…

Manchester Pride Festival

@manchesterpride / Instagram

Let’s start with the big one: The annual Manchester Pride festival will be taking place from August 27th – 30th. 

A huge number of artists are on the bill to perform over the weekend: While the artists for Friday are yet to be revealed, Saturday will see the likes of Sigala, Annie Mac, Katy B, Example, La Discotheque and Anton Powers.

On the bank holiday Sunday, Zara Larsson, Ella Henderson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Black Betty and Sian Bennett will be taking over the stage, along with a whole host of other exciting acts.

The roots of Manchester Pride and the Festival are firmly in the heart of Manchester’s world-famous Gay Village, who will of course be hosting four days of celebrations with performances, markets and parties alongside the festival.

Click here to buy tickets.

Affleck’s Palace Pride Garden Party

@afflecks_manchester / Instagram

Manchester’s famed indie emporium recently announced that they will be throwing an epic Pride Garden Party. Taking place this Saturday, August 28th, the party will be acknowledging the theme for this year’s Pride, ‘The Garden of Freedom’ by encouraging all guests to attend in fancy dress.

There will also be drag DJs spinning tunes throughout the day along with a number of Drag Queens roaming Affleck’s itself, providing fun and flamboyant entertainment to the masses.

The independent traders within Affleck’s will also be joining in with the festivities and will be offering promotions to customers to celebrate the Pride weekend. Affleck’s very own Gay Pride Shop – which is the biggest LGBTQ+ shop in the UK – stocked with over 4,500 items, including Pride essentials such as flags, face paints and fans.

Affleck’s Palace, 52 Church Street, M4 1PW
0161 839 0718

Escape to Freight Island LGBTQ+ takeover

@escapetofreightisland / Instagram

Starting tomorrow, Wednesday August 25th, Escape to Freight Island will be hosting an epic six-day long party in celebration, described as an ‘explosion of queer power.’

A whole array of exciting events are scheduled for the celebration, including the likes of Club Orchestra, who will be performing pride anthems, Amuse Bouche bringing their usual fun, House of Ghetto, and Creatures of Catharsis back with Performance is Power, alongside plenty more wonderful events across the week.

The event is ticketed per day and booking in advance is strongly recommended. However, walk-ups will still be available for 25th – 30th August. Get your tickets here.

Escape to Freight Island, 11 Baring St, Manchester M1 2PZ.
escapetofreightisland.com

Ducie Street Warehouse ‘Something for Everyone’ Pride Programme

Ducie Street Warehouse

Ducie Street Warehouse is throwing a huge LGBTQ+ friendly programme featuring a plethora of performers, artists, characters, and world-renowned DJs for five days over the course of the August Bank Holiday – from Thursday August 26th to Monday August 30th.

Their in-house resident Mix-stress and Friends will be kickstarting the event on Thursday, while Kiss Me Again will follow to curate a weekend of parties from LGBTQ+ collectives and DJs from Manchester and beyond. 

On the Saturday, there will be a drag brunch hosted by Sink the Pink DJs which will be dedicated to introduce Ducie Street Warehouse and Native Manchester’s charity partner, akt; with a donation of £5 from every brunch booking going to the charity. 

Ducie Street Warehouse, Ducie St, Manchester M1 2TP.
0161 503 9460
duciestreet.com

@therefugemcr / Instagram

Refuge ‘Come as You Are’ Party

The Refuge’s annual celebration of music, love and inclusivity will be kicking off with live performances, DJs and events from Friday afternoon right until the early hours of Monday. 

There’s a huge list of performers including the enigmatic House of Ghetto, The Family Gorgeous and tonnes of world-class DJs.

The event description reads: “These full-venue takeovers incorporate the beautiful space in all its glory, from the intense outdoor atmosphere of Waterhouse Way, to the warm surrounding of the Public Bar, and the heads-down spiritual melting pot that is the Basement.

“The Come As You Are Weekenders, especially around Manchester Pride, have developed an electric reputation throughout the UK and has become synonymous with a special and unique togetherness that only Manchester can magic from its people.”

No bookings needed, simply turn up as you are.

The Refuge, Oxford St, Manchester M60 7HA.
0161 233 5151

‘The Most Depressing Pride of Your Life’ at YES

@isthisyourchild / Instagram

YES will be hosting a very unusual but very needed ‘break-up disco’ on the Bank Holiday Saturday where guests will be encouraged to come and purge their old relationships out on the dance floor with the help from a playlist of love songs and power ballads.

They’ll be focussing on the heartache, trauma and pain of the saddest songs ever written so if that’s your bag, get on down. Tickets are only £6 and it’s on til 3am. Buy tickets here.

YES, 38 Charles St, Manchester, M1 7DB.
0161 273 2725

@ezraandgil / Instagram

Ezra & Gil Pride Special

Everyone’s favourite Northern Quarter brunch haunt will be hosting their debut Pride party on Sunday, August 29th. 

The cafe has secured a number of impressive acts and performances, including Belinda Scandal, a live DJ set and a live violinist for their outdoor seating area.

For more information and updates, visit their website.

Ezra & Gil, 20 Hilton St, Manchester, M1 1FR.