Colour my world! Summer wouldn’t be summer without Pride. Unless you live on Mars, you won’t be able to miss the fact that this event – widely dubbed as the most fun you can have with your clothes on – comes to Brighton and Hove this weekend. Here’s our snapshot of the wickedest happenings.
Saturday selection
11am: Join around 300,000 people at the seafront to follow the hundreds of colourful and comic floats along the streets from seafront to festival site in Preston Park. Find out where to join the Pride arade and how to have the best experience here and discover where to park during this busy weekend, here.
12-10.30: The hub of the fun and activity is, as always Preston Park, which this year welcomes Britney Spears as the Festival headline act. She’ll be hitting those lucky enough to have a ticket, baby, one more time from noon with her Piece of Me-themed show. Other Pride Festival acts include Pixie Lott, Mnek and Louise. Unfortunately as tickets are sold out, unless you thought ahead, you will have to listen on the sidelines – perfectly possible according to the neighbours!
2-8pm:To tie in with this year’s Colour My World theme, host Miss Lola Lasagne brings together the cream of the UK’s LGBT+ cabaret scene, including legendary Maisie Trollette and adult panto favourite Dave Lynn on Saturday. Expect camp comedy, silly songs and barking-mad costumes in this over-the-top extravaganza. Details of talent and timings can be found here.
Across the whole weekend
Fabulous doesn’t do The Pride Village Party any justice. Fundraising, fairground rides and general celebrations feature as the party takes over historic (and usually quiet!) Kemptown for two whole days. Enjoy live entertainment and from drag artists, performers, DJs and musicians – entry is by wristband – buy yours here.
Only on a Sunday…
1.30-9.30pm: Communities across Brighton and Hove come together for an afternoon of fun, laughter, entertainment and joy. LoveBN1 Fest is a chance for you to have a go at circus skills and to enjoy the skills of performance artists and cabaret stars. Street food is also available, if you can’t face making a picnic.
More about the above, and more, is on the general Brighton Pride website.
Or get away from it all
Although the centre of activity (and fun) is focused in and around Pride, there are plenty of other, more sedate, ways to celebrate summer in Sussex this weekend. Like…
Stretch out on the grass and let music wash over you in this year’s Musical Picnics at Borde HillGarden near Hayward’s Heath. Each Sunday between now and early September from 1-3pm features a different sound – this week’s is Plastikes Karekles – a Greek Trio featuring bouzouki, guitars and voices).
Or catch a classic comedy in the big outdoors in The Importance of Being Earnest – BOAT’s summer production (Weds 1st to Sat 4th August). A nod towards the Pride theme, minus the noise and kerfuffle.
Happy Pride - or however you choose to spend this special, scorching weekend!
