Whilst we understand and empathise with everyone’s frustration regarding our recent silence, making sure Pride can go ahead in a safe and successful manner has been our top priority.

Considerable effort has been dedicated behind the scenes and unfortunately, until certain discussions were finalised, we were unable to provide any updates.

We’re thrilled to announce that these discussions have concluded, and we can now confirm that the main stage of the Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde Pride Festival will be situated on Princess Parade for both the Saturday and Sunday 8^th & 9^th June.

Remaining centrally located in Blackpool, within the ‘Be Who You Want To Be’ district, and upholding the spirit of ‘Pride beside the seaside’ this location offers convenient access to all LGBTQ+ venues. Previous years have seen Pride held here, consistently resulting in resounding success.

We are implementing comprehensive measures to guarantee the well-being of all attendees while maintaining the celebratory atmosphere that makes Pride so special. From enhanced security protocols to rigorous health and safety guidelines, every aspect is being meticulously planned to create an inclusive and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. Together, we can celebrate Pride responsibly and make unforgettable memories in a secure environment.

Please see below a statement from Blackpool Council executives who have been extremely supportive in our event planning process and with whom we continue to develop a close working relationship.

We want to reaffirm how immensely proud we are of our partnerships and collaboration within the community in moving forward to ensure the success of your Pride event.

We trust this information will be well received as we continue to work hard on developing a full programme of events centred around the Pride Festival.

Tickets are still up for grabs on Gigantic.com, so be sure to secure yours before they’re gone! Keep an eye out for our headliner announcement and other exciting new acts to be announced shortly.

Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of an unforgettable Pride celebration!

The Blackpool Pride Committee

E: trustees@blackpoolpride.org

It is true that the Council did agree that this year’s Pride Festival could potentially use the new Car Park area adjacent to the new Holiday Inn.  We agreed this early in 2024 but I have to say at that time the site was still in the possession of the contractor who was building the hotel so we could not access the site to check its suitability. 

Once the site was handed over on 28th February, we were able to contact the Pride Committee to explain the challenges that the site would have for an event such as they were proposing.  In truth these challenges were not insurmountable, but they would have resulted in significant expense which would bring little benefit to the event or those participating in it other than of course safety.

As a result of this information the Council has been working with the Pride committee to identify another site still in Claremont and still outdoors.  The most likely option is the area on the Promenade behind the Metropole Hotel and we will be able to agree that location hopefully in the next couple of days. 

I realise it may be disappointing to some that the Holiday Inn site cannot be used but first and foremost we must all ensure that the event can be made safe for all those participating and the cost of this at the Holiday Inn site would have been prohibitive.

As the new proposed location has been used previously for Pride we are confident that this can work well and the Council remains committed to working with the Pride team to help them to deliver a safe and successful event.

Alan Cavill

Director of Communication and Regeneration

Blackpool Council