There have been several Pride marches in Bristol since the late ‘70s, but Bristol Pride as we know it today has only been running in its current format since 2010. The iconic LGBT+ celebration is now one of the biggest events in the city’s calendar—and this year celebrates its 15th anniversary on Saturday, July 12.
On top of the annual Parade March and Festival, you can once again expect a two-week programme of events from June 28, leading up to the big day. This includes everything from club nights to board game nights, theatre shows and cabaret workshops in LGBT+-friendly venues across Bristol.
When is the Parade March?
Arguably, the most important aspect of Bristol Pride. The Parade March is our city’s chance to show how diverse and proud Bristol can be. It’s a statement for equality and justice, as well as a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community’s contribution to the city, and a protest against the injustices still plaguing LGBTQ+ people around the world.
The Bristol Pride’s Parade March will gather from 10am at the Bandstand end of Castle Park on July 12, before departing at 10:45am. The two-mile walking parade will take about 1 hour to complete, passing through Broadmead, the Old City and along Harbourside to where it will end at the Amphitheatre—from here, shuttle buses will take you to The Downs where the party will begin.
What is happening at the Pride Day Festival?
Pride Day also offers one of Bristol’s biggest festivals, welcoming an incredible 40,000 people to five unique stages on The Downs. Canadian alt-pop visionary and global icon Allie X will headline the Main Stage, marking her long-awaited debut performance in Bristol, while none other than Kim Wilde will take the afternoon legends slot. You can also catch Cascada, Ultra Naté, Tom Rasmussen and many more.
Elsewhere, the Bristol Pride Cabaret stage brings some of the very best performers from the UK Drag Circuit. Headlined by RuPaul’s Drag Race superstar Brooke Lynn Hytes, known for her ballet-infused performances and stunning visuals, festival-goers can expect comedy, live vocals, lip syncs and everything in between from the likes of Alfie Ordinary, Miss Jam Tart, Son of a Tutu and Snow White Trash.
Also announced across the festival’s five stages (including the Uplift Stage and Dance and Performance Stage) are rising pop names, club favourites, local legends and community-led performances. Highlights include drag royalty Val the Brown Queen, Cocoa Butter Club’s Mr Wesley Dykes and the return of Bristol Drag Theatre Company founders Cynthia Road, Quiches Lorraine, Spank and Tess Drive.
How much is it?
What sets Bristol Pride apart from other UK Pride events is that it’s a donation entry festival, but we recommend grabbing a Supporter Wristband for £9 beforehand to get free travel, quicker entry, money off drinks, and many other benefits. To purchase yours, head here.
Will there be an afterparty?
Your house or mine? Seriously, though, the Official Afterparty will take over the Bristol O2 Academy. This fundraising night helps keep Pride Day a donation entry festival, with a multi-room takeover from the likes of Guilty Pleasures, Jonbers Blonde (DJ Set), BEEFMINCE, Dirty Pop and DJ Daddi. Plus, plenty of surprises from aerial performers, go-go dancers and more!
Alternatively, there are also Pride afterparties at Strange Brew and Queenshilling. Plus, Bitch, Please! will be throwing its own Pride party at The Prospect Building with ‘The Last Dance’—including BIG DYKE ENERGY, Hercules & Love Affair (DJ), Horse Meat Disco, LOVEFOXY, Narciss, LSDXOXO, Pxssy Palace and Suze Rosser.
What else is happening for Bristol Pride?
As mentioned, a whole programme of events is happening in the build-up to Bristol Pride. Just a small taster includes:
- Martin Parr’s free photography exhibition of Bristol Pride at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery (May 27 to November 23)
- Queer Tango Bristol’sfree beginners’ taster class at The Architect (June 28)
- The Bristol Pride Ceilidh in The Lantern at Bristol Beacon (July 4)
- House of Boussé’s TRANS/FORM performance at Strange Brew telling trans stories of survival, resistance and beauty (July 6)
- Bristol Pride Comedy Night showcasing an incredible line-up of award-winning LGBT+ acts at Bristol Old Vic (July 6)
- A pre-Pride silent disco at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery (July 11)
To learn more about all these Bristol Pride events and more head here.