On Sunday 14th August Wakefield City Centre will see the first ever Pride Festival.  The festival will be a celebration of the wide cultural and ethnic diversity of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered community. 

The Pride Steering group, organising the event, is made up of representatives from Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, Eastern Wakefield Primary Care Trust, Yorkshire MESMAC, Voluntary Action Wakefield District, West Yorkshire Police and the local gay/gay friendly pubs Bar Zeus, Downtown and the Rainbow.  The promotion of Wakefield as an LGBT friendly City is at the heart of the steering group’s aims for this year’s event and hope this will become a major annual event in the City.

This debut event promises to be spectacular with a wide variety of entertainments to cater to the diverse needs of the LGBT community, friends and family.  The Festival will kick off at 12noon in the Precinct.  The main stage will host a range of live bands, acts and singers and throughout the day people will be able to visit stalls displayed by local agencies and organisations, the funfair and food stalls.  A 5-a-side football tournament will be held at Lightwaves Leisure Centre with 8 teams competing for 1st place trophy.  The festival will conclude with a Pride March around Wakefield City Centre, led by Mr Gay Wakefield and Miss Gay Wakefield with many flamboyant floats, costumes and special guests.  In the evening the festival moves indoors to the local gay/gay friendly venues with a variety of top DJ’s and performers on stage and a charity auction. 

If you would like more information or to donate please contact the Wakefield MESMAC office on 01924 211116 or email wakefield@mesmac.co.uk.