Blackpool Pride is over 2 days in 2008. Starting on the 17th May, the party goes on through to the 18th. All the action takes place on the North Pier and Promenade + the many gay venues in Blackpool.

On 17th and 18th of May and coinciding with the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), Blackpool is to stage it’s third annual LGBT Pride festival weekend. This event has made staggering leaps forward in such a short space of time and is set to illuminate the resort with a fantastic programme celebrating its’ embrace of cultural diversity.

Blackpool will come to a complete stand still at 12pm on Saturday 17th May as a vast array of floats and groups parade along the World famous ‘Golden Mile’ from the new St Chads Headland on the Promenade towards North Pier, the setting for the main part of the event. A Civic Official opening ceremony will take place, as the Parade reaches North Shore at around 1pm with many guests and celebrities appearing on the Radio Wave broadcasting stage to get the event into full swing!! People can even bring their dogs along as we have a mini dog show in the afternoon to find the campest pooch!! A Promenade market area will play host to many LGBT lifestyle type stalls for those with the urge to spend!!

New for this year is the Women’s Area that is a venue catering mainly, but not exclusively, for the needs of the girls with masses of entertainment planned hosted by, among others, the irrepressible Clitty Rub Quick! A ‘women only’ space is planned to allow various service providers to inform and promote their important work and a quiet space for informal help and advice will be available.

Leading on to the main North Pier, you may be accosted by rather large seagulls (roughly 6ft in fact!!) or even a nun playing a piano travelling at 30 mph!! Two distinct areas are at the end of the Pier.

Firstly the Dance Arena plays host to the hugely successful Federation club promoters who will be entertaining the crowds through Saturday, be careful though as you may be set upon by our team of fitness instructors who will put you through your dance paces!! On the Sunday, beginning with an important time of reflection at 11.45am, will be a whole host of familiar faces from the Blackpool scene including our very own Basil Newby! All will be working alongside Ross Alexander’s Anthem team.

Moving over to the prestigious North Pier Theatre they have an amazing list of celebrity and local entertainers who will be performing from around 3pm on the Saturday afternoon through to the evening. The likes of Pete Burns, Rowetta, Same Difference, Kelly Llorenna and Michelle McManus and just some of the names set to appear in the show. The Sunday night is set to be the Blackpool show of the year with a truly sensational All Star Variety show. ‘Being Alive’ directed by the stage legend Dougie Squires, coordinated by Richard Caswell and hosted by the unstoppable ‘King of the Jungle’ Christopher Biggins is a star studded production of dance and theatre set to blow you away!! The proceeds of this separately ticketed show will go directly to Terence Higgins Trust.

Blackpool venues are all set to play host to the many revellers and have a second to none ‘campaign of pleasure’ in the planning!!

For details on purchasing Pride wristbands and additionally tickets for the Sunday night show and also for your accommodation needs (contact BAGs or Blackpool STAY both listed on the links page and offering gay and gay friendly hotels) visit our website www.prideblackpool.com which is being constantly updated with important information to allow people to plan for a Pride experience they will never forget!!

Find out more: www.prideblackpool.com