Manchester Pride

Manchester stages one of Europe's biggest Pride events, offering a host of parties, parades and celebration as the city sways in a fiesta of fun. The packed programme of events reflects the wide range of interests of the LGBT community.

Manchester's gay scene is one of the most vibrant and boisterous in the UK but it's during the city's annual Pride celebration that it really comes into its own.

The 11-day festival begins in civil fashion with a programme of fringe arts events, poetry readings and avant-garde theatre performances but it's during the event's final weekend - always held over the bank holiday - that most people join the celebrations. This is when a colourful, chaotic and endearingly cheeky parade swerves its way through Manchester centre, before proceedings turn to Manchester's gay village around Canal Street.

As ever this year sees concerts from musicians both camp and celebrated, as well as special parties and get-togethers hosted by Canal Street's clubs and bars. With Mancunians' party spirit in full force and the LGBT community in full swing prepare for a party both rambunctious and revelatory!