This weekend sees the 2024 Pride in Liverpool event taking place across three days with the theme this year #BeHeard – here is the full programme. Tony McDonough reports
Pride in Liverpool takes place in the city centre on Friday, Saturday and Sunday – July 26, 27 and 28 – and organisers have published the full programme.
LCR Pride Foundation are championing LGBT+ voices across the three days and asking for them to #BeHeard as they outline what will be happening on each day.
Pride Classical, a first-of-its-kind open-air orchestra concert, kickstarts Pride in Liverpool weekend and will see Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears light-up the mainstage alongside a stellar 32-piece orchestra.
Jake will be joined by drag legend Danny Beard and West End stars Alison Jiear and Ashford Campbell.
This family-friendly event is an important fundraiser for Pride in Liverpool taking place the following day on Saturday, July 27, with ticket sales going towards keeping the festival free to attend.
Tickets are on sale from £30 plus booking fee with VIP packages also available at prideinliverpool.co.uk/classical
March with Pride returns for what is anticipated to be the biggest march yet, with the muster beginning from 10.30am at St George’s Plateau before thousands make their way through Liverpool city centre to the festival site at the Pier Head site.
For the free festival on Saturday, homegrown talent and tribute acts join a glittering lineup of stars who will take to the Pride in Liverpool main stage.
Expect a showstopping set from headline act Katrina, formerly of Katrina and the Waves, and dazzling performances from Brenda Labeau, DJ Dan Walker, Filla Crack, Kelly Llorenna, Kelly Wilde, Lee Mobley, Linda Gold’s Funnyboyz, Lolly, MD Productions, Natalie Abel, Urban Cookie Collective and more.
The festival site at Pier Head will also contain a marketplace of LGBT+ merchandise and products, food & drink as well as lots of activities for all the family.
This year a dedicated Young People and Family zone has been added alongside a CommunityEXPO of local services and organisations.
Accessibility will also take the centre stage with British Sign Language (BSL) on all stages and accessible viewing areas at the march and main stage.
Launching as part of the weekend programme is Pride Spotlight, an new initiative from LCR Pride Foundation that supports and celebrates LGBT+ artists on a pop-up stage on the Royal Albert Dock across Saturday and Sunday.
Alongside the Pride in Liverpool Festival this year will also see the British Firefighter Challenge, an annual sporting competition coming to the city for the first time and set to be hosted by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service on Saturday and Sunday.
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Elsewhere across the city, at the Pride Quarter, The Masquerade Bar’s Street Party Outdoor stage returns with headline act The Cheeky Girls as part of a Pride in Liverpool Fringe event supported by LCR Pride Foundation.
LCR Pride Foundation chief executive Andi Herring said: “LGBT+ rights in the UK have gotten worse, or even ignored and removed in the last few years.
“This year’s theme ‘Be Heard’ is all about reversing some of the backtracking and pushing LGBT+ voices to the forefront.”
Pride in Liverpool 2024 full programme:
Friday, July 26
- Pride Classical – Pier Head, 5pm – 11.30pm
Saturday, July 27
- March with Pride – St George’s Plateau, Muster from 10.30am
- Pride in Liverpool Festival – Pier Head, 12pm – 8pm
- Pride Spotlight – Albert Dock, 1pm – 6pm
- British Firefighter Challenge – Water Street, 9am – 6pm
Sunday, July 28
- Pride Pop-Up Bar & Stalls – Pier Head, 9am-6pm
- Pride Spotlight – Albert Dock, 1pm – 4pm
- British Firefighter Challenge – Water Street, 9am – 6pm
For all the latest information and updates, visit prideinliverpool.co.uk