Whether you’re heading into town for the parade, planning a full weekend of celebrations or looking for something more low-key, here are ten ways to celebrate Blackpool Pride next weekend.
Blackpool Pride celebrates 20 years next weekend, with thousands expected to gather across town for the annual celebrations. Alongside the main parade and festival on the seafront, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate too — with drag performances, creative workshops and community events across the Rainbow Quarter and beyond.
Blackpool Pride Festival and Parade
The centrepiece of the weekend returns to the Tower Festival Headland with two days of live music, DJs, fairground rides, bars and community stalls overlooking the seafront, plus headliners including Ultrabeat and Heather Small. Saturday’s Pride parade will once again fill the Promenade with rainbow colours as community groups, performers and supporters make their way through town before arriving at the festival site.
Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June
Tower Festival Headland / parade begins at the Sandcastle at 11am
Tickets: Book here
Youth Pride
A dedicated Pride celebration for LGBTQ+ young people and allies, with entertainment, activities and a chance to meet others in a welcoming and supportive space. There’ll be comedy from Black Liver, VR art with Joseph Doubtfire, storytelling with Mama G, DJ skills with DJ Davolicious, art with Pot Bound and The Dapper Artist, podcasting, a youth hackathon and more.
Blackpool Central Library
Sunday 7 June, 12pm–4.30pm
Free entry
Pride Beside the Seaside
Blackpool’s rich LGBTQ+ entertainment history takes centre stage in this special Pride weekend tour at Showtown. Led by curator Emily Langridge, the guided experience explores the performers, drag artists and trailblazers who challenged convention and helped shape Blackpool’s reputation as a welcoming space for queer culture. Among the stories are Terri Rogers, the pioneering magician and ventriloquist whose career soared after her public transition, drag icon Vesta Tilley and sideshow sensation Colonel Barker.
Friday 5 June
Showtown Museum (Bank Hey Street)
Tickets: Book here
Rainbow Quarter Street Party
A free community celebration bringing together LGBTQ+ venues, local businesses, residents and visitors in the heart of Blackpool’s Rainbow Quarter. Open from 12pm both days, with DJs from 1pm followed by live entertainment and music into the evening.
Lord Street
Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June
Tickets: Book here
Baga Chipz
Dragged straight across the Mersey, Drag Race star Baga Chipz headlines Pride weekend at McGrath’s Irish Bar. Bold, hilarious and never understated, Baga is one of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’s most iconic queens, known for sharp one-liners, powerhouse vocals and pure camp chaos. McGrath’s is keeping timings under wraps, but Baga is expected on Sunday — and with free entry and no tickets, you’ll want to get there early.
McGrath’s Irish Bar (87 Lord Street)
Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June
Free entry, over 18s only
Ella Vaday
Another Drag Race favourite arrives in Blackpool as Ella Vaday performs live at The Flying Handbag. Known for serving West End polish, killer vocals, razor-sharp comedy and one of the most iconic Snatch Games in Drag Race UK herstory, Ella is guaranteed to pull a crowd.
The Flying Handbag (Queen Street)
Saturday 6 June
First come, first served
Young Queer Craft Club
A quieter creative option during Pride weekend, offering LGBTQ+ young people the chance to work with clay in a relaxed and welcoming space. This informal hand-building workshop is all about getting creative, having a good time and experimenting with clay.
Aunty Social (Topping Street)
Saturday 6 June, 1pm
Tickets: Book here
Solve-Along-A Murder She Wrote
A warm-up to Pride on Thursday night at Bootleg Social, this camp and chaotic interactive screening of a classic Murder, She Wrote episode is a fun wildcard for the celebrations. Hosted by superfan Tim Benzie, expect games, prizes and plenty of audience participation.
Thursday 4 June
Bootleg Social (Topping Street), 7.30pm–9.30pm
Tickets: Book here
Shop Window Competition
Spreading colour and queer joy across town, businesses throughout Blackpool are decorating their windows for this year’s Pride competition — bringing the celebrations out onto the streets and adding a festive feel all week long.
Throughout Pride week
Blackpool town centre
We’re Still Here
We’re Still Here! is a heritage project from Abingdon Studios celebrating and documenting Blackpool’s LGBTQIA+ community. As part of Blackpool Pride’s 20th anniversary, the project is inviting people to share stories and memories from Pride over the years — from photographs and flyers to voice notes and written reflections.
Throughout Pride weekend and beyond
Email: [email protected]
