Leicester Pride is an annual LGBT pride event in Leicester, England, which was founded in 2001.[1]

Leicester Pride usually takes place around the end of August/early September each year, including the parade through the City Centre before heading out to Abbey Park for the main event lasting until around 9pm with further events running into the later evening at some of the gay bars and clubs in Leicester.

Current Event

The event is supported by local businesses including Sytner Group and Walkers Crisps.

Events start with a parade from Rutland Street looping through the City Centre to Abbey Park via the Clock Tower.

Until 2023, the main events were held at Victoria Park but were required to be moved to an alternate location as a result of the Party in the park events hosted by BBC Radio 2.

Abbey Park to the north of the City Centre was chosen as an alternate venue which is now used each year.

Origins

The launch project intended to involve the lesbian and gay community in the production of the Leicester Pride Carnival, to involve the whole community in the carnival itself and to promote better understanding. It was supported by Arts Council England.[2]


Year by year

  • 2007 and 2008 - No events held
  • 5 September 2009 after a three-year absence, Leicester Pride returned to the city. Events included a march from the High Street outside the Highcross Shopping Centre, weaving around Leicester Market, past the Clock Tower, along Humberstone Gate and Lee Circus and finally emerging on Belgrave gate where a street festival involving the closure of that part of the road had been arranged. Stalls providing food, alcohol, LGBT and Pride-themed merchandise, as well as information stands for various sectors of the LGBT community (e.g. a bisexual stand) were present. Entertainment included live music, drag queen acts and DJs such as the Mix Munkies, with Blazing Squad providing the headline act.
  • 2010 - Took place on Saturday 4 September 2010 on Victoria Park, which included a festival at Victoria Park until 8 pm, when the party retreated to the bars of Leicester.
  • 2011 - Took place on Saturday 3 September 2011 with the parade starting at The Curve Theatre at 12 noon and ending on Victoria Park. The party continued until 8 pm after which people headed to the after-pride parties at the various bars in the city.
  • 2012 - Took place on Saturday 1 September on Victoria Park, the theme was "Masquerade".
  • 2013 - Took place on Saturday 2 September kicking off with a rainbow parade.[3]
  • 2014 - Took place on Saturday 30 August with over 700 people starting the parade from The Curve Theatre at 12 noon to Victoria Park.[4]
  • 2015 - Took place on Saturday 5 September.[5]
  • 2016 - Took place on Saturday 3 September.[6]
  • 2017 - Took place on Saturday 2 September.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "About Us: Richard Clark". Cultural Ambition Leicester. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "Leicester Pride". Lottery Fund.
  3. ↑ "Leicester Pride: Festival kicks off with rainbow parade". Leicester Mercury. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "Leicester Pride 2014". Leicester Mercury. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "Leicester Pride 2015". Leicester Pride. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015.
  6. ↑ Leicester Pride 2016 is just around the corner! Archived 12 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Leicester LGBT Centre. Published 31 August 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  7. ↑ Leicester Pride. Leicester Pride. Retrieved 10 July 2017.

52°37′27″N 1°07′07″W / 52.6242°N 1.1185°W / 52.6242; -1.1185


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leicester_Pride