Summer is the season of Pride events, and every year communities come together and show solidarity for LGBTQ+ people. Pride events are renowned for colourful parades, marches and great music but at their heart, it’s all about acceptance, equality and raising awareness for issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. Pride is all about being proud of who you are no matter who you love, bringing people together to celebrate love, friendship and individuality. 

Whether you want to join in with all the celebrations or simply find your local Pride, here is a roundup of some of the annual Pride events that take place across Greater Manchester. 
 

Bury Pride 
 

Bury Pride is usually the first event on Greater Manchester’s Pride calendar and is a great way to kick off a summer of celebrations in style. Taking place on the last weekend of April at Castle Armoury Drill Hall, Bury pride attracts great artists, tribute acts and more for a day of fun and solidarity. Plus, the huge walking rainbow parade will flood the streets with colour. 
 

Pride on the Range 
 

At the beginning of May, Whalley Range hosts its own Pride event. In previous years it’s included a Pride Park Run, Spoken Word evening and of course a huge party. Expect a huge array of performers and entertainment, DJs and more. Pride On The Range is organised by local residents and will feature a triumphant parade of Whalley Rangers while celebrating local talent and support networks. 
 

Pride in Trafford 
 

Pride in Trafford’s next event will take place from Wednesday 17 to Saturday 20 May 2023. This five-day festival celebrates identity and LGBTQ+ life within the borough. Since the initial event in 2019, the event has grown from strength to strength. Now it features art and cultural events, a family-focused ‘Pride on the Plaza’ event at Waterside Plaza and of course plenty of entertainment to suit all tastes. 
 

Salford Pride’s The Pink Picnic 
 

Salford’s annual pride event is The Pink Picnic which has been running for over ten years. In the stunning setting of Peel Park, this event usually takes place at the end of June and promises to be unapologetically proud, capturing the true meaning of what Pride stands for. The day-long event brings together drag, musicians, dancers, DJs and prominent LGBTQ+ voices from across the city. The Pink Picnic is one of Greater Manchester’s biggest free pride events and focuses on uplifting, representing and celebrating the LGBTQ+ people within the borough and beyond. 
 

Rochdale in Rainbows 
 

The first Rochdale in Rainbows event took place in 2019 and was the first publicly celebrated Pride in the borough. As a week-long event that takes place at the end of June, Rochdale in Rainbows plays host to a huge amount of events for everyone to get involved in. In previous years there have been Drag Queen Storytime sessions for families, Drag Bingo, inclusive church services, local libraries highlighting LGBTQ+ authors and educational focuses across the borough.  
 

Sparkle Weekend 
 

Sparkle Weekend is the only Greater Manchester Pride event dedicated solely to the trans community. It’s a very important event for the city-region and acts as a safe space for anyone who identifies as gender non-confirming, their friends, families and allies. The free-to-attend event has attracted thousands of visitors in previous years, it’s festival-style, family-orientated nature makes it appealing to everyone. As well as live music and entertainment, there are talks, workshops and opportunities to engage with local charities from across the city-region that support trans and gender non-conforming individuals.  
 

Tameside Pride 
 

Tameside Pride drew around 2,000 attendees to its first event in Cheethams Park, Stalybridge in 2019, before shifting to a digital celebration during lockdown in 2020, with entertainment from Charlie Hides from Ru Paul’s Drag Race, singer and performer La Voix, drag act Misty Chance, comedian Stephanie Aird and more. Now preparations are underway for their third in-person celebration in 2023. Usually taking place in mid-July, there’s sure to be an abundance of stalls, live acts and entertainment for Tameside’s biggest party. 
 

Oldham Pride 
 

Expect live music, cabaret, and oodles of entertainment as in mid-July, Oldham Pride takes over. If previous years are anything to go by there will be a parade walking from Parliament Square to George Square, where you can catch most of the action. In the past, there has been a Queer Cabaret show at Oldham Coliseum, a Pride Picnic and a Pride Service to finish off a weekend of celebrations. 
 

Stockport Pride 
 

The end of July will mark a welcome return to Stockport Pride, which will be taking place at the Historic Marketplace. After its launch in 2017, Stockport Pride has quickly become a favourite event in the borough’s calendar. Expect drag acts, live music, food and drink as well as a parade through Stockport town centre. There will also be lots of charities and community groups attending so you can learn more about the support available for LGBTQ+ individuals as well as how you can join. 
 

Bolton Pride 
 

Less than a week after Stockport Pride, at the beginning of August, Bolton Pride will be waving the rainbow flags. Each year an abundance of performers, from musicians and tribute acts to drag artists take to the stage at Victoria Square. There is also a huge Pride parade filling the streets with music, colour and joy. There is often one day marked as a family day with more entertainment for little ones but across the weekend there will be food, drinks, entertainment and stalls for everyone. 
 

Levenshulme Pride 
 

Levenshulme Pride is another event worth adding to the calendar as the rainbow flags take over South Manchester around mid-august. Last year, the weekend kickstarted with Rainbow Ronnie’s Karaoke Disco and there were plenty of other acts, entertainment and activities throughout the weekend. Levenshulme Pride is built on community spirit and is a truly open and inclusive free-to-attend event which aims to stand up against hatred and show solidarity. Previous years have featured parades, music, stalls and great vibes, so get ready for all this and more.  
 

Wigan Pride 
 

Wigan Pride returns with its family-friendly, inclusive Pride event. Held across the town centre in mid-August, starting with the town centre parade, the fun will continue with two stages featuring local talent, plus market stalls that stretch down Marketplace and Believe Square featuring LGBTQ+ stores, organisations and activities. The event’s Unity Stage will also include BSL interpreters, and a quiet accessible zone in The Grand Arcade for those needing to take a moment, or ad by Wigan Council and other businesses across the borough, is entirely free to attend. 
 

Manchester Pride Festival 

Manchester’s biggest and most prestigious Pride event is back for the August Bank Holiday weekend, and it’s definitely worth the wait. Events throughout the weekend will celebrate equality, arts and culture, community, activism, youth and family but of course, it will be a huge party and celebration of love. There are too many events to name, but there is guaranteed to be something for everyone, of all ages and all tastes. Highlights include the much-loved Manchester Pride Parade which will be back after a two-year hiatus and the streets will once again be filled with colour. The weekend will also see the return of the hugely popular Gay Village Party and the closing Candlelit Vigil, a gathering in Sackville Gardens to remember those lost to HIV, and those still facing LGBTQ+ persecution globally as the festival returns to its activism roots. Manchester Pride Festival will run from Friday 26 August to Monday 29 August, day tickets cost £19 and weekend tickets are £35. 
 

Superbia Weekend 
 

As part of the Manchester Pride Festival, Superbia Weekend is a series of free arts and culture events celebrating Manchester’s queer talent and offering an alternative celebration. Many of the events are alcohol-free and family-friendly. The series of events opens with a Pride Special of Superbia Cinema at Ducie Street Warehouse on Wednesday 24 August which will be showing a series of short films by North-West based queer filmmakers. Events will then continue throughout the week with everything from queer kids' music workshops, to a Manchester is Queer art exhibition and even a makeup masterclass with international makeup artist Patti Baston. Superbia's event series will end on Sunday 28 August with a Disabled, Queer & Hear Drop-in Social & Show at Feel Good Club in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. View the full Superbia Weekend line-up here, some events are ticketed. 
 

Big Hands Alternative Pride 
 

On the same weekend as Manchester Pride Festival, Big Hands on Oxford Road likes to present a more alternative offering. If you’re more into punk, rock, garage or grunge, Big Hands Alt Pride could be the event for you. In this third edition of Big Hands‘ take on Pride expect alt-DJ sets and live music from the queer community covering a range of genres that more alternative tastes will love and it’s all free. 
 

Didsbury & Chorlton Prides 
 

In September, Didsbury and Chorlton will both be hosting Pride events which are free of charge. Didsbury Pride is set to take place on Saturday, September 3 at Emmanuel Church. Last year saw live performances, craft stalls and entertainment and we can only expect this year to be bigger and better. Meanwhile, Chorlton Pride will take place on Saturday, September 17 at St Clements Church with pride events taking place across Chorlton into the evening. Expect activities, performances and family-friendly fun. These community-led events celebrate the LGBTQ+ residents of Chorlton and Didsbury as well as those across Greater Manchester. 
 

Bury Pride’s Rainbow Train 
 

Hop on board for a Pride celebration with a difference, as the East Lancashire Railway’s heritage steam engine is about to get a lot more colourful. The rainbow train departs from Bolton Street Station in Bury on Sunday 25 September. The carriages will be filled with local drag performers, musicians and entertainment for a colourful journey you’ll never forget. Of course, there’s also the beautiful scenery of the Lancashire countryside to enjoy. Book tickets here 

View more events in Greater Manchester this summer by visiting our What’s On page.