Alternative Manchester Pride Festival 2020 Full Programme

Manchester Pride has released the schedule for its Alternative Manchester Pride Festival over August bank holiday weekend (Saturday 29th – Monday 31st August).

Visit: https://www.manchesterpride.com/ for all the information on the full programme of activity! 

From yoga and drag artists to new and archive performances, the LGBTQ+ charity has curated a programme of free content to keep Greater Manchester entertained for three days!

Content will be broadcast via United We Stream GM and YouTube between 10am and 1am on Saturday and Sunday, followed by a virtual Candlelit Vigil on Monday evening to close the festival.

Each day will kick off with Drag Queen Storytime with DIY SOS star Anna Phylactic and a yoga class on the Manchester Pride YouTube channel.

Saturday’s line-up will be streamed via United We Stream and will feature a special Manchester Pride Parade feature and a programme of brand new live performances from Manchester Pride favourites including Louise, Karen Harding, Pixie Lott, Jodie Harsh, Gok Wan, Bright Light Bright Light, Husk, House Gospel Choir and Kelli-Leigh.

The infamous Manchester Queens, lead by Drag SOS star Cheddar Gorgeous, have recorded a brand new drag show to be screened on Saturday, plus there will be a House Of Noir KIKI ft House Of Ghetto & House Of Blaque and Manchester Vogue hero Darren Pritchard the House Mother, queer womxn’s takeover DJ set and body positivity pride collective Fat Pride will host a takeover DJ set before Gaydio hosts the After Party.

The show will also be dotted with highlights from archive performances from past years’ Manchester Pride Festivals and will include shows from Years & Years, Melanie C and Rita Ora.

Radio fans can check out a virtual celebration of Manchester Pride at 2pm-6pm Saturday on BBC Radio Manchester with weather idol Owain Wyn Evans.  The show will feature a selection of LGBTQ+ faces discussing their memories of prides gone by with music in mind.

Sunday will play host to Youth Pride MCR including a Drag Makeup Tutorial with The Nightbus, Vogue Workshop with House of Ghetto’s Darren Pritchard and a Lip Sync Battle with Lill’ Queen and Liquorice Black. They also have Superbia Sunday content including films and in conversations with artists including Queer As Folk and Doctor Who creator Russell T Davies. All this content will be available through the Manchester Pride and Superbia YouTube channels.

The first Manchester Pride Human Rights Forum will take place on WebinarJam on Sunday 30th August between 3pm and 5pm with panelists Munroe Bergdorf, Juno Dawson and Ben Hunte in conversation with host Reeta Loi. Delivering a panel which brings together activists and thought-leaders to discuss the most relevant and pressing LGBTQ+ issues, the Human Rights Forum is part of the charity’s commitment to amplifying LGBTQ+ issues and campaigning for equality. Topics will include ‘Trans Rights are Human Rights’ and ‘The Role of Pride in Race Equality’. Register here: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/14/qrw98hx

Also on Sunday The Village Bakers will host a bake-a-long brunch for all of the family between 11am and 12pm.  They will demonstrate how to make their own summer fruit pavlova, spring vegetable tart and carrot cake muffins.  Ingredient lists are available in advance via the Manchester Pride website for those wanting to take part. Alternative Manchester Pride Festival sponsor, Co-op Food, providing vouchers for first (£80), second (£40) and third prize (£20) bake-off winners. Those who are baking along and wish to enter to win can send an image of their bakes using Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #ManchesterPride2020

Every year the Candlelit Vigil provides a moment of reflection to close Manchester Pride Festival and 2020 will continue this tradition.

9pm on Monday 31 August will see the alternative Candlelit Vigil which will, as always, offer LGBTQ+ people the chance to take a minute to remember those lost to the HIV virus as LGBTQ+ people join together to fight the epidemic worldwide, and the stigma that still exists. It also provides a space to remember those who are suffering and those who are persecuted, presenting an opportunity to stand together in a united front and recognise the many challenges that are still faced by LGBTQ+ communities, both in the UK and around the world. As the event will be streamed online Manchester Pride have devised a number of ways in which LGBTQ+ people can get involved so that they can continue to feel connected to this important moment in the weekend. Viewers will have two options for viewing – they can watch the event via United We Stream or for a more intimate experience they can join the Zoom screening where they will be able to light a candle, share a message of hope or make a heart as an offering to connect them with the wider communities.

All the information on how to access the amazing content over the weekend will be available through Manchester Pride’s website: https://www.manchesterpride.com/