Birmingham Pride 2014
Birmingham celebrates 'Equality and Freedom around the world' this bank holiday weekend, as the UK's biggest Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender (LGBT) festival takes over the Gay Village around Hurst Street for a two day party.
The fun starts as the spectacular Pride Carnival Parade is waved off by Birmingham's Lord Mayor from Victoria Square at 12 noon on Saturday 24 May.
The parade, which will include around 40 floats and a number of colourful walking groups, will take in New Street, High Street, Carrs Lane, Moor Street Queensway and Smallbrook Queensway before turning into Hurst Street and arriving in The Village.
Once at The Village there's plenty on offer with The Main Stage on Lower Essex Street featuring top pop acts, the Cabaret Stage and Community Village Green on Hurst Street and a fairground on the Pershore Street NCP car park.
This year's Main Stage will host an exciting line-up of acts, including Gabrielle, Miss Dynamite, Fuse ODG, Katy B, Conor Maynard, Kimberley Wyatt, Artful Dodger (DJ Set) and Chris Steele (DJ Set) …
…whilst the Cabaret Marquee, complete with pink carpet, chandeliers, large bar and a champagne corner, has a lineup of top cabaret artists and entertainment from across the UK.
Tickets for the music and cabaret programme (which are then exchanged for wristbands at the venue) can be bought online from http://www.birminghampride.com/and cost £10 for a day or £15 for the weekend if bought in advance.
Access to the Community Village Green Area at the bottom of Hurst Street remains free all weekend and requires a free wristband. Activities include a dog show and village games such as egg and spoon race and tug of war - ensuring there is something everyone to enjoy.
Birmingham City Council staff, including the new Chief Executive, Mark Rogers, will be joining the Birmingham Pride Parade on Saturday at 12 midday. The council's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Allies Network has been a strong feature within the council and the Pride Parade for many years and reflects a growing number of 'allies' or straight/heterosexual employees who also want to show pride in Birmingham's LGBT community.
Also joining the parade will be staff and volunteers from TOPAZ (The Older LGBT Project) which is based at the Birmingham LGBT Centre. Elly Barnes, Birmingham City Council's LGBT schools advisor will be speaking on the Community Stage on Saturday at 3.45pm about the work being undertaken with teachers and students to make Birmingham schools LGBT-friendly.
The roads in and around Hurst Street will be closed to traffic for the weekend to make way for a safe and successful event.
For more information go to http://www.birminghampride.com/
Birmingham Pride is organised by the Pride Festival Committee with support from Birmingham City Council and a host of other partners and sponsors.
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For more media information contact Debbie Harrison on 0121 303 4476
For media accreditation visit - http://www.birminghampride.com/useful-info/Media-Accreditation/c7/p84
