June marks Pride Month across the world, to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Pride Month is now dedicated to the celebration and commemoration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride. Pride Month is about acceptance, equality and celebrating the work of LGBTQ+ people, it raises awareness about LGBTQ+ history and educates the public about issues that still need to be addressed to this day. 

Although the city of Manchester typically waits for the August Bank Holiday to kick off its pride celebrations, the city has a rich and fascinating LGBTQ+ History which means you can find a way to celebrate Pride Month in true Mancunian style. 

For example, Manchester has the United Kingdom's largest LGBT community outside of London and is renowned for its Gay Village centred around Canal Street. It also hosted the UK’s first ever dedicated Pride event (aside from parades) in the UK in 1990 and the world’s first permanent Trans Memorial Garden unveiled in Manchester’s Sackville Gardens in 2013. 

Whether you identify as LGBTQ+ or simply believe in equality and inclusion, recognising the importance of Pride Month and celebrating the progress made for LGBTQ+ rights is not only an important thing to do but it can also be educational and fun for the whole family. 

Pride

Here are just some ways you can mark Pride Month in Greater Manchester: 

Visit the Gay Village 

A beacon of celebration in the city and an icon of the LGBTQ+ scene, Manchester’s Gay Village is a welcoming community of bars, nightclubs, restaurants and businesses open to all. Centred around Canal Street, you can expect to find a flourishing queer scene with entertainment for all persuasions on every night of the week. The party never stops and you don’t have to either. 

Check out the Alan Turing Statue 

Computer science pioneer Alan Turing worked at the University of Manchester and is honoured with a statue in Sackville Gardens. Every year on Turing’s birthday, a candlelit vigil remembers his pioneering work in computing and the persecution he faced for being gay. If you’re looking for a way to learn about the troubles faced by the LGBTQ+ community throughout history, this is a poignant place to start. 

Grab some cake in Richmond Tea Rooms 

On Sackville Street right on the edge of the Gay Village is Richmond Tea Rooms. Set over two floors, this enchanting ‘Alice in Wonderland’ themed dining experience is everything you want from an afternoon (LGB)Tea… and the most flamboyant afternoon tea experience in the city. It’s bright, it’s colourful and it’s individual, the perfect place to celebrate pride month deliciously. 

LGBT+ nightlife outside the village 

Whilst the Gay Village is the centre of LGBT+ life, fringe venues across the city have popped up providing alternative queer nights; in the Northern Quarter, Kiss Me Again takes place at Soup Kitchen, whilst Bollox goes all out in queer protest at Deaf Institute; and Hidden – an industrial warehouse turned club hosts Homoelectric in the middle of a Salford industrial estate. Elsewhere, The Refuge regularly welcomes all to Come As You Are at its queer parties, whilst HOME exhibits LGBT+ cinema and art. 

Get some LGBTQ+ Social Media Content 

Follow the LGBTQ+ Heritage Trail rainbow mosaics scattered across the city and you’ll discover rainbow bees on street bollards and street art murals around Canal Street. All of these make perfect snaps for Instagram or the trail itself will make equally brilliant TikTok content for Pride Month. Elsewhere, find the rainbow stairs in bohemian emporium Afflecks, which display messages of no hate, transphobia and homophobia, perfect to send a message to your friends, family and followers that you’re supporting Pride Month. 

While Manchester Pride is the best-known pride celebration in our region, it’s not the only one. Every borough has its celebrations which feature live entertainment, family fun, events and educational opportunities. These safe spaces mean that everyone is welcome to come and party together as one. 

To help you celebrate inclusivity, love and more, here are all of the pride events across Greater Manchester this summer: 

Salford’s Pink Picnic 

Saturday 17 June 

For Salford’s annual Pride event, The Pink Picnic takes over Peel Park for a celebration of Lesbian, Gal, Bisexual, Trans and Non-binary people across the city. With headliners including Nadine Coyle, Black Peppa, Big Brovaz and Booty Luv alongside stalls, activities and entertainment The Pink Picnic aims to build a stronger, more diverse community that celebrates inclusion and equality. 

Rochdale in Rainbows  

Saturday 24 June 

With theatre, music, drag and dance, workshops, history discussions, parties and more, Rochdale in Rainbows is the borough’s annual pride event. Everyone is welcome, most events are free but some may require tickets. 

Sparkle Weekend 2023  

Saturday 8 – Monday 10 July 

As the world’s largest free-to-attend celebration of gender diversity, The Sparkle Weekend is a festival-style family event featuring live music, entertainment, talks and workshops for anyone who identifies as gender non-conforming, their families, friends and allies. 

Tameside Pride  

Saturday 15 July 

With a variety of acts throughout the afternoon, food, market stalls and a fairground, Tameside Pride is fun for all ages. This free-to-all event is held from noon on Saturday 15 July in Cheetham’s Park, Stalybridge for a celebration of inclusivity, love and self-expression. 

Oldham Pride  

Friday 21 - Sunday 23 Jul 

Oldham Pride will take place between Friday 21 and Sunday 23 July. There will be a pre-pride party in The George Tavern on Friday, a parade, open-air stage and community stalls on Saturday and on Sunday a community picnic will be held in Alexandra Park with a Pride Service at Oldham Parish Church. There’s a whole host of fun for the whole family. 

Bolton Pride  

Friday 28 – Sunday 30 July 

Bolton Pride will be back with another fantastic line-up from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 July. Bringing together the borough’s diverse communities Bolton Pride involves a parade, performances and more fun to empower the LGBTQ+ community and celebrate allyship across the borough. 

Stockport Pride  

Sunday 30 July 

Stockport Pride is a yearly festival for the local LGBTQ+ community which takes place in the town’s historic Market Place on Sunday 30 July. Charities, community groups, drag acts, musicians and local makers will all come out in force to celebrate equality and empowerment across the community. As Stockport is officially Greater Manchester’s town of culture for 2023, we’re expecting big things! 

Levenshulme Pride  

Friday 11 – Sunday 13 August 

A completely free, inclusive and fabulous event, Levenshulme Pride is the largest free local Pride in Manchester, outside of the city centre. Taking place from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 August, Levenshulme pride counteracts hatred by showing pride in the community and celebrating the variety of people living there. It’s a celebration for everyone with a lineup of events and activities to show solidarity and support. 

Wigan Pride  

Saturday 12 August 

Promoting and celebrating equality and diversity, Wigan Pride brings together arts, music, street parade and positive messages. This feel-good summer party is a fantastic day of entertainment for the whole family including people of every race and faith, from all sexualities and genders. The parade and performances including headliner the Cheeky Girls aim to remind the local community that equality should not be taken for granted and make sure that it continues. 

Manchester Pride Festival 

25 – 28 August 

Taking place across the August Bank Holiday weekend, Manchester Pride Festival celebrates queer people, culture and expression as loudly and publicly as possible in a refusal to hide in shame. It’s one of the UK’s most infamous pride celebrations and with good reason, as there are always a huge variety of events including The famous Manchester Pride Parade and the Gay Village Party with performers including Bimini, Jodie Harsh, Jake Shears, Danny Beard, Gok Wan and Natasha Bedingfield. It also includes Youth Pride and Superbia, an arts and culture programme celebrating LGBTQ+ life through poetry, art, music and dance. There’s also a Candlelit Vigil for a moment of reflection in Sackville Gardens. 

Chorlton Pride  

Saturday 16 September 

A local celebration, Chorlton Pride brings together all members of the community to promote the visibility of LGBTQ+ people and erase hatred. It’s a family-friendly event with food, drink, charities and local entertainment and will take place on Saturday 16 September 2023.      

      

If you know of more ways to celebrate Pride across Greater Manchester that we haven’t included in this roundup, contact us to let us know. 

To find out about more events taking place across the region, visit our What’s on Page or look through our ideas and inspiration.