The build up to the annual Liverpool Pride festival has begun. Venues across the city are staging events in the lead-up to the festival.
FACT are screening a number of films in August and September under the banner of Liverpool Pride at the Pictures. The Liverpool Icons/LOOK photographic competition has an exhibition at Liverpool One. There is a book launch for ‘What’s Your Pride Story?’ on July 23 at Studio 2, Parr Street. The book is produced by Writing on the Wall and Liverpool Pride. It features new LGBT writers and is sponsored by Arts Council England. The Lantern Theatre are staging productions under the Queertet 2016 banner on July 28 and 29 and there is a Liverpool Creatives Social at The Brink on July 27.
Liverpool Pride, which started in 2010, is being held over two days for the first time this year. The theme will be Liverpool Icons. Much of the activities will take place around St George’s Hall and St John’s Gardens. The march and main festival will take place on Saturday July 30 starting at the festival Stage on William Brown Street at midday. There will be three stages offering entertainment throughout the weekend, with Liverpool singer Sonia headlining on Saturday. As usual, the celebrations will last long into the night in the Stanley Street Quarter, where Liverpool’s LGBT community party all year long.
Sunday July 31 sees ‘We Are Family’ activities, entertainments and workshops. There will be six choirs, children’s activities, music and dance. An Alternative Fashion Show will be an extravaganza on the steps of St George’s Hall, featuring acrobats and stilt walkers amongst other things.
The Pride festival has always been a flamboyant and uplifting celebration of LGBT culture. This year looks set to us bring another spectacular event for the whole community.
Roxy Gillespie
