Pride In London Festival is back for 2019, featuring a whole month of awesome events.
Pride in London might be most well-known for its colourful, jubilant annual parade (taking place on Saturday, July 6 this year), but in 2019, they’re hosting over 90 LGBT+ events throughout the city in the run-up to the big day, as part of the Pride in London Festival. And this year is a particularly special one, celebrating 50 years since the birth of the modern LGBT+ rights movement – that’s right, it’s a Pride Jubilee!
What is Pride Jubilee?
June 28th, 2019 marks 50 years since the Stonewall Uprising, the first stones of an avalanche which launched the Pride moment as we know it today. LGBT+ celebrations have been held in London since 1972, with a variety of official organisations running them. Since 2013, Pride in London have been in charge of proceedings, and the festival has gone from strength to strength each year – over a million people took to the streets for the 2018 festival.
With LGBT+ rights still under threat across the globe, Pride Jubilee offers London the chance to celebrate the triumphs of the past, whilst keeping an eye on the challenges and opportunities of the future – all whilst bedecked in all the rainbow attire you can muster! Find out more about Pride Jubilee here.
What’s on during Pride in London 2019?
From cultural happenings to social occasions, there’s a truly diverse selection of stuff going on. (You can even get apps for iOS and Android to help you navigate it all!) Here are the best events taking place as part of Pride in London 2019.
1) Pride in London 10k (June 9)
It’s billed as the “ultimate pre-parade warm up”, and it’ll certainly get those legs working in advance of the march. Taking place in the dreamy surrounds of Hyde Park, runners of all abilities are invited to join in and run with the LGBT+ community. Find out more here.
2) Pride’s Got Talent Finals (June 9 & 16)
Hosted at Shaftesbury Avenue’s Apollo Theatre, it’s the grand final of a pair of exciting talent searches. Having scoured high and low to find the top LGBT+ talents in town, a panel of industry insiders will crown the Music champion this Saturday, before declaring the next big thing in showbiz at the Cabaret final on the 16th.
3) Pride Jubilee: From the Stonewall Uprising to the Present (June 11)
Join author and Stonewall employee Matthew Todd for an insightful talk about his career and new book, which focuses on the fight for equality. Sure to be thought-provoking stuff. Find out more.
4) Creative Pride Pop-Up Shop (June 12 – July 10)
Setting up shop on Carnaby Street, you’ll find art, accessories, and fashion from top LGBTQ+ designers at this pop-up shop. Those with a predilection for art will find the ceramic workshops, ‘Queeroes’ exhibition, and imaginative storefront of particular interest. See more here.
5) Trans in Tech – Driving for Authenticity (June 19)
Microsoft and InterTech host this special Pride session, exploring authenticity in our work and personal lives. Racing driver Charlie Martin and Microsoft engineer Emily Coates will be discussing their transitions and careers, and there’s also ample time for chat and networking. Find out more.
6) Pride in London Gala Dinner 2019 (June 20)
The ritziest event in the Pride in London calendar sees a night of dining, wining, speeches, and entertainment hit the capital. At £200 a ticket, it’s one for a special occasion, but all the funds raised support Pride in London, and last year’s hosts included MNEK and Stephen K. Amos. See more here.
7) Ride with Pride 2019 (June 22)
IBikeLondon are back with another Pride-themed cycle though the capital, as a fleet of speaker-equipped Disco Bikes set off from Waterloo Bridge. The route is still currently TBD, but face paint, glitter, and costumes are very much welcome. Find out more.
8) Queer Question Time (June 26)
Hosted at the legendary Royal Vauxhall Tavern, this special edition of Queer Question Time brings voices from Pride movements past and present to debate what the festival means in 2019. You can submit questions until June 21st, and more info can be found here.
9) The Pride Picnic (June 30)
With the parade by this stage only a week away, this chilled picnic in Victoria Park is a neat way to laze about feasting and drinking before the festivities begin. And even better, dogs are very welcome to join! Find out more.
10) Sink The Pink Icons Ball (July 6)
Melanie C headlines this massive event, partying through the night after the parade has come to an end. Infamous party collective Sink The Pink are taking over Troxy for what’s often billed as the biggest night in the queer calendar, with drag queens and Spice Girls aplenty. See more here.
That’s by no means an exhaustive list of Pride in London events in 2019 – you can see the full programme here. There’s also LGBT+ events happening elsewhere, for instance at the Science Museum, who host the return of their popular Sexuality Lates series – with sexual health, animal reproduction, and sex technology all set to feature.
When is the Pride in London 2019 Parade?
Saturday, July 6th is the date for your diaries. The second-biggest public party in the country after Notting Hill Carnival, Pride in London Parade brings a day of rainbow vibes to the very heart of London. Over a million people pitched up last year, and you can expect the 2019 edition to be even bigger, better, and more colourful. And handily, if you’re a newbie, parade first timers can find a list of top tips here!
The parade sets off from Portland Place at 12pm, heading down Oxford Circus and Regent Street, through Piccadilly Circus, down Pall Mall, past Trafalgar Square, and finally finishing on Whitehall. It’ll continue until around 5:30pm, and expect to see a whole host of surrounding entertainment in the likes of Leicester Square, Soho, and Golden Square, which welcomes a ‘World Area’ of BAME LGBT+ talent.
Finally, you can dance until dawn at some awesome Pride afterparties: an early pick is E1’s post parade bash, with Horse Meat Disco amongst the acts on the bill – other parties will be announced in due course.
Find out all you need to know on the Pride in London website, including their full list of events.
Featured image: Chris Beckett