The Trustees and Committee of Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Pride Festival are excited to present the first of our regular blogs. The aim is to provide you with frequent updates and insights into our preparations for Summer Pride 2024.

Over the past couple of weeks, we have been finalising the venue in collaboration with all our key stakeholders to ensure the success of the first-ever two-day outdoor official Pride event on Princess Parade, Blackpool Promenade. This involved attending the Safety Advisory Group Meeting (SAG) with the council and emergency services.

Ensuring a safe event is our top priority. Like all major events, we’re working with a professional events company to ensure smooth operations, as we have done in all previous years.

Acts

We believe Blackpool boasts a wealth of talent, and we’re eager to showcase local artists alongside our Headliners over the two days. We’ve already announced the Cheeky Girls, Deeper Shade of Blue, VengaLive, Sassitude, Jenny Ball, HerHouse DJ’s, Johnny Wright, and Lee Anthony for Saturday. Today, we’ve secured our Headliner for Saturday, and you’re in for a treat! Details will be released in the coming days.

On Sunday, we’re thrilled to present a first for Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Pride Festival as some of the fiercest Queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race take to the stage. We can’t wait to welcome Baga Chipz, Cara Melle, Sum Ting Wong, and Alexis Saint Pete, topped off with an award-winning tribute act to Abba, ‘Kiss the Teacher’. Watch this space as we announce more acts in the coming week.

Loyalty Pays

We’re thrilled that over 700 of you have taken advantage of our ‘fiver frenzy’ loyalty offer and will be able to enjoy the full two-day event for just £5. Many more have grabbed tickets for the two-day event at the tier 1 price of £10. Tier two tickets are now available on Gigantic, and wristbands will soon be on sale in the majority of LGBTQ+ venues. Tier three tickets will launch closer to the event.

Where Does All the Money Go?

Organising an event of this magnitude costs in excess of £80,000. This includes staging, sound, lighting, event management, site planning, artists, fencing, security, first aid, fire safety plans and extinguishers, toilets, waste management, road closures, big screens, marketing and publicity. And the list doesn’t end there!

Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Pride Festival Charity relies entirely on fundraising, donations and securing sponsorship to cover the costs of the event. With this in mind, we are extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed to our recent fundraising events. We would also like to thank all of our sponsors for their continued support. Without you, our Summer Pride would not be possible.

We look forward to bringing you further updates each week including news on our VIP area, the Parade, fundraising events and more information about what will be going on for you to enjoy over Pride weekend.