A new location has been revealed for the Liverpool Pride Festival 2018 – which will see the event going back to its historical roots on its ninth annual year.
Tithebarn Street in the city centre will be transformed into the main festival site on Saturday 28 July.
Liverpool Pride is the region’s established annual celebration of all things LGBT+, and this is ninth consecutive year the festival has been staged.
St George’s Quarter has been home to Liverpool Pride for three years, but due to its increasingly growing success, organisers are working with Culture Liverpool and other cultural partners to expand the festival further which includes a new location for 2018.
Liverpool Pride organisers believe that Tithebarn Street will prove popular with festivalgoers, as the new location is close to the city’s Gay Quarter and nearby Pownall Square, the site of Mersey Pride in 1995.
To coincide with the location announcement, the first act can also be revealed – international drag star and winner of Celebrity Big Brother 2018, Courtney Act.
Courtney is no stranger to the limelight. The contemporary artist and activist made it through to the semi-finals of the premiere season of Australian Idol in 2003, and went on to sign with Sony/BMG. Courtney is probably best recognised globally for making the top three in the Emmy Award-winning RuPaul’s Drag Race. She later released her debut EP Kaleidoscope, and her videos have been viewed online more than 40 million times.
Courtney will also perform at Heaven nightclub on Victoria Street during Pride Weekend.
Liverpool Pride takes place across two days – Saturday 28 July and Sunday 29 July 2018. The festival is free to attend.
Saturday’s festival programme will focus on the area round Tithebarn Street, which will be closed between the Superlambanana and Moorfields to ensure the festival takes place in a safe and controlled environment.
The Barclays Main Stage from headline sponsor Barclays will be situated by the iconic Superlambanana, while the San Francisco Cabaret Stage hosted by sponsor Manchester Airport will be located in the square between Vernon Street and Cunliffe Street, the UK’s global gateway in the North will also host the Manchester Airport VIP Boston Bar.
Areas adjoining Tithebarn Street will also feature in this year’s programme, and will include a Community & Acoustic Stage, Community Expo, Food Market and a Quiet Zone.
Festivalgoers are reassured that the Liverpool Pride March will go ahead as normal, starting from St George’s Hall and finishing at Moorfields.
Sunday’s programme of activities will take place at arts venues across the city, with the central hub at The Bluecoat. Details will be announced shortly.
This year’s theme is #AllTogetherNow, which encompasses every branch of the LGBT+ and wider communities coming together no matter what their ethnicity, gender, sexuality, belief or however they define themselves in celebration of equality and diversity.
John Bird, Co-Chair of Liverpool Pride said: “This is an important year for Liverpool. It’s a decade since the city held the prestigious title of European Capital Of Culture 2008 – and the Liverpool Pride Festival 2018 will play its part in this year’s celebrations.
“We’ve had a wonderful three years with the St George’s Quarter as our home, but we are taking this milestone cultural year as an opportunity for change to move forward, develop and expand the festival. We are working closely with Culture Liverpool and other cultural partners to ensure that this year’s event in its new location proves to be a huge success.”
Mayor Joe Anderson added: “Pride is one of the biggest events in Liverpool’s calendar and attracts huge numbers to the city to join together to empower people and celebrate diversity and equality.
“As a city we are committed to fighting intolerance and we are proud to support what will be one of the biggest Pride events in Europe. Thousands of festivalgoers are expected to head to the heart of the city centre to enjoy the event which will be one of highlights of the summer.”
Liverpool Pride Festival is proud to be working with headline sponsor Barclays; sponsor Manchester Airport; and Media Partners Radio City and DIVA magazine.
Liverpool Pride has grown to become one of the city’s major annual events, last year a record 8,000 people joined the march and over 50,000 festivalgoers enjoyed two days of entertainment to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
The Liverpool Pride Festival 2018 marks a decade since the death of murdered gay teenager Michael Causer, who tragically lost his life on 2 August 2008.
Liverpool Pride’s #AllTogetherNow theme will also complement a city-wide season of events and performances to mark #Liverpool2018 – marking 10 years since the city was named European Capital Of Culture 2008.
Keep up to date with Liverpool Pride’s new announcements at:
Facebook – LiverpoolPride
Twitter – @LiverpoolPride
Winner of the Liverpool Echo Community Event of the Year 2017 Award.
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