Tens of thousands of people braved heavy rain to take part in and watch the first Manchester Village Pride Parade, which made its way through the city centre on Saturday, August 29. The parade, themed 'No Place Like Home', marked a significant return for the event after uncertainty in 2025 left celebrations hanging in the balance.
A Return to the City's Streets
The city's official Pride celebrations date back to 1985, but this year marked the first Manchester Village Pride, an event set up following the voluntary liquidation of the company behind Manchester Pride last year. Now run by volunteers and owned by the community, the celebrations began on Friday night in the village with performances from Danny Beard, Freemasons & Katherine Ellis and B*Witched.
For many, the parade is the highlight of the celebrations, and this year's theme was particularly apt for an event coming back to its home. 'No Place Like Home' served as a nod to the queer classic The Wizard of Oz, and also highlighted the special meaning of home and belonging within a chosen family.
Participants and Performers
The parade began just after midday, with representatives from Gay Village businesses supporting the event standing side by side as the Pride flag billowed in the wind. Among those taking part were Lidl, Tesco, Shelter, Co-op and Scouts, as well as many LGBTQ+ groups and local organisations including Manchester Sharks, OutdoorLads, the Prairie Dogs, Manchester FrontRunners, Out With Nature, George House Trust, Down Syndrome Manchester and LGBT Foundation.
ITV Pride also featured a host of former and present stars from soaps including Coronation Street and Emmerdale, including Jodie Prenger, Antony Cotton, Catherine Tyldesley, Sue Devaney, and Lucy Fallon. Members of the DIAS (Domestic Violence Service Wigan) walked with the Maggie Oliver Foundation, all dressed as characters from The Wizard of Oz, with Lyndsay taking on the role of the Cowardly Lion.
Voices from the Parade
Lyndsay explained the significance of their costume: “People need the courage to speak up and leave abusive relationships. Dressing up as the lion was a great opportunity to not only take on the theme but also share our message. This is the first time I’ve taken part in Pride and there’s just such a great energy here. There’s a massive turnout.”
Liverpool content creator James Foley also took part in the parade, and said Manchester's Pride celebrations always come with an 'electric' energy. “I still remember my first Pride and it was just absolutely fabulous, it was an amazing time,” he explained. “I think the new look of this year’s Pride has been great so far. They’ve done such an amazing job to pull out all of the stops - there was a strong possibility at one point where it might not have even happened.”
