Bristol Pride to move location to the Downs
Bristol Pride Festival is moving location after a record number of people attended the event in 2018.
This year the organisers have announced massive expansion and development plans that will see the annual LGBT+ festival move to The Downs.
The new location will see the festival double its capacity after welcoming 36,000 people to the event in the Lloyds Amphitheatre last year.
2019 marks the 10th Anniversary for the current Pride team and the festival in the form it takes now. With an increased venue size, Bristol Pride will welcome new areas and activities this summer, including a new stage in partnership with national lesbian publication DIVA Magazine.
Other new additions this year will include a giant circus tent in partnership with Bassline Circus with performances throughout the day, a wellbeing and mindfulness area, and a silent disco.
The incredible success over the years has seen the multi award winning festival become one of the largest Pride events in the UK and one of only four Pride’s in the UK to be named in the Global Top50 of Pride festivals worldwide.
As part of the celebrations, the team are inviting previous acts to perform again at the festival including Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Sonique, NINA, Saara Aalto, and Bristol’s own Dr Meaker.
Many more acts are yet to be announced but those set to perform on Pride Day this year include Boney M, Four of Diamonds, Hazell Dean and Ru Paul’s Drag Race’s Peppermint with fellow star Manilla Luzon performing at a special Friday event at clubnight ESDR.
The festival will again run for two weeks with events taking place across the city from the 29 June until the 14 July. As well as the ever ‘pup’ular dog show, events include theatre performances at the Wardrobe Theatre, with Riot Act on Thursday 10 July marking the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
The Pride Comedy Night returns on Tuesday 9th July, which this year features their biggest ever line-up including Mawaan Rizwan, Tom Allen, Suzi Ruffell, Jayde Adams, and Zoe Lyons.
The fortnight of events also will showcase the return of the Pride Circus Night at Circomedia, Milk Poetry and the Pride film festival Queer Vision at the Watershed. Alongside some of the best LGBT+ films, Queer Vision will host a special evening partnered with IRIS Prize, where Bristol Pride (and the audience) select a winner for their Best of British short film competition.
Pride Day will start with the Parade march in the city centre, which last year saw 12,000 people take to the streets in a colourful display to showcase visibility for the LGBT+ community. A message that follows a 23% increase in LGBT+ hate crime in our region.
£7 Supporter Wristbands for Pride Day are available now from Bristol Ticket Shop.
For more information visit www.bristolpride.co.uk