The idea
Preston Pride LGBTQ+ Community Festival is a fun-filled, accessible, flamboyant, colourful, inclusive, and free-to-attend community-based LGBTQ+ event complete with a fantastic parade.
It will take place on Saturday, 27th September 2025, in the heart of Preston, around the Flag Market.
The Preston Pride team, also known as the 'Pride Makers', is a 100% volunteer-led community-based group and are dedicated to make the day at continued success by listening to what the community wants!.
The festival will feature a wide range of entertainment, including live music, drag performances, local artists, an inclusive dance group, community drummers, and local tribute bands.
The main goal is to to celebrate diversity, inclusivity, and equality, and to create a welcoming space for everyone regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or background whilst raising awareness, visibility and encouraging engagement & support from our own community, friends, families & our fabulous allies.
What we'll deliver
- • A free, family-friendly and accessible event which includes BSL interpreters throughout the event on stage
- • A fantastic inclusive parade with opportunities for groups, organisations and individuals to join in
- • Colourful & flamboyant Drag Queens both leading the parade and the days events on stage
- • Local music artists appearing on stage including the winner of 2025 Preston Pride Has Got Talent
- • Information stalls from 40 organisations and special guest appearances throughout the day from local celebrities
- • 8 Hours of fun filled packed entertainment starting at 10.30am
- • Hate Crime Awareness raising & information reporting with our Hate Crime ambassadors supporting
- • Sexual Health advice and testing on the day by the community health practitioners
- Familiy activities including Flag & bunting making plus arts and crafts throughout the daydelivered
- Evening performances at three additional venues across the City
Why it's a great idea
There are numerous benefits to having a local LGBTQ+ Pride event, both for the community and the wider society.
Preston Pride promotes acceptance and fosters a sense of identity. It celebrates diversity, encouraging inclusivity within the community.
We increase visibility for our local LGBTQ+ issues, helping to educate the wider public and address how to reduce prejudice and discrimination and stigma.
We provide a space for people to connect, share experiences, and support each other, strengthening intergenerational community bonds.
Pride can improve self-esteem and mental well-being for the LGBTQ+ community by offering a supportive environment where they can express themselves freely
The event serves as a platform for raising awareness about LGBTQ+ rights and advocating for change, promoting advocacy and raising awareness of local issues and impact whilst often attracting tourists into the city, boosting local businesses and contributing to the local economy.
Steps to get it done
- Agree the staging area/size & company
- Confirm the security & first aiders
- Booking of the site
- Update the website & all social media
- Contact the artists to agree fees & times
- Complete all legal documentation e.g Public Liability Insurances & street licences
- Contact additional venues and confirm times for performers
- Stall plan agreed and distributed
- Complete full risk assessment with City Council & Police
- Advertise the event
- Arrange for BSL Interpreters
- Confirm road closures with relevant authority
- Deliver the event
- Evaluate the event
This year due to last years feedback, we have extended the parade route which will now showcase the event on the day, It will be winding its way from Preston's Fishergate Centre, through the city main high streets, past the bus station and finishing at the event site on Preston's flag market which is 3 times longer than last year and more visible.
Our website will include all the information you'll need to plan your visit to Preston including approx artist timings, best places to park, public transport links, how to sponsor the event, booking a stall and full joining instructions of how to take part in the parade.
So please visit our website for more information www.prestonpride.com or find us on Facebook & Instagram for regular updates as they enfold. In 2024 social media had a combined media reach of 61, 715 entries. A piece of research by UCLAN (Bradshaw 2019) was carried out and showed that the social return on investment was £14 for every £1 spent on delivering the Festival.
