Manchester Pride has confirmed the long-awaited return of its annual LGBTQ + celebration this summer.
The Manchester Pride Festival will return with a parade, live music, Gay Village Party and candlelight vigil, turning the city center into a big party.
Tickets for MCR Pride Live, which in 2019 hosted Ariana Grande and Years and Years headlining, have been flying since going on sale.
The charity has confirmed that the live music portion of this year’s celebrations will be reduced and will be held in a smaller venue.
Plans are all subject to change as the country emerges from lockdown, but organizers say they remain “cautiously optimistic.”
Here’s everything we know so far about Manchester Pride 2021.
When is Manchester Pride 2021?
(Image: Joel Goodman)
The Manchester Pride Festival will again take place over the August weekend, which this year takes place from Friday August 27 through Monday August 30.
The Gay Village Party will take place over the four days in the area around Canal Street.
Meanwhile, MCR Pride Live will only take place on Saturday and Sunday of the big weekend.
The long weekend will end on Bank Holiday Monday with the poignant candlelight vigil at Sackville Gardens.
How much do the tickets cost?
Manchester Pride tickets have gone on sale, with discounted tickets available to low-income Greater Manchester residents.
Rainbow Passes, which give ticket holders access to both MCR Pride Live and all four days of the Gay Village Party, are priced at £ 69.50 for the weekend and £ 38.50 for both days.
Low-income people can get Rainbow Passes at a reduced price of £ 39.75 for the weekend or £ 22.50 per day.
For Gay Village Party tickets only, it’s £ 22.50 for the weekend or £ 15 for a day ticket on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Again, low-income folks can get a weekend gay village party ticket for £ 12.50, or for a day for £ 7.50.
Low Income Tickets are available to residents of Greater Manchester who can provide proof of Universal Credit, Work Tax Credit, Job Search Allowance (JSA), Personal Independence Payment ( PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Tickets are available at manchesterpride.com/tickets
Who is in the line-up?
(Image: Joel Goodman)
The official Manchester Pride Festival lineup has yet to be announced, which hasn’t stopped tickets from selling quickly.
With so much uncertainty surrounding travel restrictions this year, it could be a list of local talent taking the stage this year.
We asked MEN readers for their predictions, and Sam Smith is a name that has popped up a few times.
Other guesses include Lucy Spraggan, Michelle Visage, Rachel Stevens and Olly Alexander from Years & Years and the recent hit series It’s A Sin.
The charity promised on Twitter, “We’ll work hard to make sure our line up is diverse and everyone feels represented.”
Will the parade return?
Plans are underway to bring back the popular Manchester Pride Parade, which draws tens of thousands of people to the city center.
In 2019, 200 organizations took part in the protest with more than 14,000 people.
As with all Manchester Pride plans, the parade will be subject to the success of the government’s roadmap outside of lockdown.
What did the organizers say?
Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride, said: “Manchester Pride is proud to be part of a global Pride movement that celebrates progress in equality and tackling the discrimination faced by LGBTQ + people.
“As a charity and organizer of one of the UK’s biggest pride festivals, we have had to fight for our survival throughout 2020.
“The postponement of the Manchester Pride Festival to 2020 was necessary but extremely difficult for me and the team and I am so happy that we can plan an event in 2021.
“Of course, there is some uncertainty about what will happen in the coming months, but we have to plan now so that we can organize a festival of this magnitude.
“We are confident that by reducing the capacity of MCR Pride Live, we can run the event, as long as the government’s plans for vaccinations and reopening events and hospitality remain on track.
“With the health and safety of everyone involved being our top priority, we remain cautiously optimistic and have plans in place to address a number of potential scenarios.
“Whatever happens, Manchester Pride will celebrate LGBTQ + life in Greater Manchester in August and we will do all we can to make it a safe, live and in-person Covid event across the city.
“If that is simply not possible, we will host an alternative, innovative and world-class celebration that incorporates socially distant events and digital elements to ensure that LGBTQ + people in Greater Manchester can come together to celebrate and ensure that our campaign for greater LGBTQ + equality continues at this crucial time. “
