What better way to be at Blackpool Pride 2022 than alongside a landau owner. Accompanied by drag artists. Take a look at our latest photo gallery from Saturday’s Pride parade.
When you live in Blackpool you might live nearby a performer, an ice-cream seller, a theatre worker, a comedian, hotel workers, or entertainers. I live really close to the town and it feels like the area near The Raikes Parade is home to a number of folks who work in heritage jobs. So when I found out that my neigbours were joining Blackpool’s Pride parade in their landau I asked if they would like a personal photographer to document the journey. (don’t forget to click on images to open full galleries).
Setting off at 8am with Bart The horse, freshly washed and shined we arrived at The Art B&B shortly afterward. Waving at the folks at The Old Electric nearby as they set off for their own Pride experience. Brews were gratefully received from the hotel staff and it was made sure that Bart was fully refreshed with a number of apples. As a Blackpool dweller, I have never really experienced a landau ride and it feels special perched atop a carriage, with me holding on somewhat for dear life as we headed to another local hotel nearby The Mardi Gras to collect drag artists Phylis, Delia, and company. The Mardi Gras is a nondiscriminatory gay bar in the heart of Blackpool on Lord Street, a gay-owned hotel for everyone, gay, straight, bi, and a trans-discrimination-free zone.
The journey to the beginning of the parade at The Sandcastle South Pier was exciting with busloads of revelers and pedestrians waving as they overtook us. Smiles were forthcoming at our carriage appreciative of Bart the Horse’s showgirl plume. The sun tried hard to shine as the Blackpool wind tried hard to mess up our hair and chap our lips.
Sat beside my landau owning neigbour felt amazing, spotting folks I knew and having a birdseye, or in this case “a horse-eye” view of the parade was pretty special. An atmosphere of joy and it felt like I was photographing the spectators rather than the parade itself. It was lovely to see so many babies and children supporting The LBGTQ vibes as well as a couple of centurions whose interactions with the general public seemed to be a consistent theme throughout the parade. I noticed a lot how busy Saturday’s parade was, with folks at windows and lining the street. As we approached Talbot Square the scene was breathtaking.
I dismounted just past Talbot Square trying to catch the tail end of the parade and thanking my hosts for allowing me to accompany them. Feeling even more privileged to witness how important my neigbours relationship with his horse is as Bart The Horse showed him an appreciative nudge as our journey closed and Bart was rewarded a juicy apple. It was wonderful to see such a jam-packed Pride event in Blackpool and with Blackpool’s natural affinity to The LBGTQ+ scene, our Pride celebration is so important. I hope that the images convey the specialness of the day and that perhaps you even spot yourself in the crowd.
Images and words: Claire Walmsley Griffiths
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