Manchester Pride has revealed the theme for this year’s legendary Parade, and it’s set to celebrate “the power of love”.
A week after it was announced that tickets to the popular Gay Village Party had gone live, and with the charity aiming to encourage people to show love to ourselves and the LGBTQ+ community, Manchester Pride has revealed that the theme for the 2023 Parade will be celebrating love in the 10th anniversary year of marriage equality.
Titled ‘Queerly Beloved’, the Parade will see the city’s streets become awash with colour and celebration on Saturday 26 August.
🌈MANCHESTER PRIDE PARADE🌈
Join us at the Parade on Sat 26th Aug 2023 as we march loudly and proudly through the streets of Manchester, celebrating our progress and protesting for LGBTQ+ liberation in a kaleidoscope of queer joy and colour🌟
The Parade is always one of the festival’s most highly-anticipated events every year, as people march proudly together through the streets of Manchester in front of tens of thousands of supporters cheering them along the way.
The charity says the 2023 Pride Parade theme has been chosen to mark the 10th anniversary of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act being passed on 17 July 2013 – which enabled civil partners to convert their partnership to a marriage, if they wish.
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It also gave individuals the option to change their legal gender without having to end their marriage.
Manchester Pride reveals theme for 2023’s Parade celebrating ‘the power of love’ / Credit: Manchester Pride
Manchester Pride CEO Mark Fletcher says the charity is “very excited” about this year’s Parade theme, explaining that: “Queerly Beloved celebrates the wins for the LGBTQ+ community but also poses the question – how far have we really come?
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“We will be marching for love, and our message is clear – our love is powerful, our love is resistance, and love should be celebrated for all.”
The Manchester Pride Parade route this year is set to start on Liverpool Road, before passing by the Town Hall and through Gay Village, and finishing on Whitworth Street.
Hundreds of young LGBTQ+ people – including the charity’s own Youth Pride MCR group and their allies – lead the Parade through the city last year, but this year, it’s expected that even more will join the celebrations, which is why Manchester Pride says it is “actively encouraging” walking entries in an aim to make the Festival “even more environmentally-friendly”.
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The city’s streets will become awash with colour once again this August Bank Holiday weekend / Credit: Manchester Pride
As always, Manchester Pride Festival 2023 takes place over four days in Manchester city centre on August Bank Holiday weekend (25-28 August), and is made up of several fringe events that all provide opportunities to advocate for LGBTQ+ equality, engage families and young people, and to celebrate queer arts and culture.
All events are free to attend, with the exception of the Gay Village Party – which tickets are available for now here.
£2.50 from every ticket will be donated to the Manchester Pride Community Fund, with the money going directly to LGBTQ+ causes and projects in Greater Manchester through the distribution of grants.
Fancy taking part in this year’s Pride Parade? Find out more and apply here.
Featured Image – Manchester Pride
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No trams to run on major Metrolink line as ‘essential’ work to repair Victorian-era tunnel starts this weekend
Emily Sergeant
Travel disruption is expected across the next couple of weeks as ‘essential engineering’ work begins on a major Metrolink line.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed that a reduced service will run on the Bury line this weekend, as work to replace ‘defective’ beams supporting the roof at Whitefield Tunnel means that no trams will run between Crumpsall and Bury on Saturday (10 May), or between Whitefield and Bury on Sunday (11 May).
Some weekend and overnight working is said to be ‘necessary’ to secure and protect the overhead line equipment, so that the beam replacement work can be completed as ‘safely and quickly as possible’, according to TfGM.
A crane is planned to be in use for the beam replacement work at times.
Closures on the line from this weekend come after the successful completion of preparatory work at the site, following the discovery of a defective beam.
No trams will run on a major Metrolink line as ‘essential’ work to repair Victorian-era tunnel starts this weekend / Credit: TfGM
As well as the suspension on services this weekend, as mentioned above, several other chances throughout this month and into the next on the Bury line are also to be expected.
No tram services will operate between Crumpsall and Bury on Sunday 25 May, and no again from Friday 30 May to Sunday 1 June, while no trams will run between Whitefield and Bury from Monday 26 to Thursday 29 May.
For the duration of all closures, replacement bus services will run between the affected stops on all the above dates.
Any so-called ‘noisier’ work is set to take place during daytime and evening working hours where possible, and several noise reduction measures – such as acoustic blankets and enclosures – also to be put in place during this.
Essential upgrade work to protect the historic Whitefield Tunnel means no trams will run between Crumpsall–Bury (Sat 10 May) and Whitefield–Bury (Sun 11 May).
We're replacing a defective beam to keep the line safe and reliable.
As always, the Greater Manchester public is being advised to ‘plan ahead’ if they are travelling.
“Whitefield Tunnel dates back to the 19th century,” explained Ian Davies, who is TfGM’s Network Director for Metrolink, “and this essential work will ensure tram services can continue to safely pass through it for decades to come.
“This is a complex job, but we will do everything we can to minimise disruption to passengers, residents and businesses.”
He added: “I would encourage people who use the Bury line to plan ahead and check the Bee Network website, app, and social media channels for the most up-to-date travel information.”
AO Arena to host huge Europa League Final fan zone after Manchester United victory
Daisy Jackson
Manchester’s legendary AO Arena will once again host an almighty football fan zone later this year, welcoming in fans for the Europa League Final.
The huge venue previously hosted a Road to Victory fan zone for the Euros, and is now ready to replicate all the atmosphere and excitement of the beautiful game once again.
This time it’s in honour of Manchester United, who romped their way into the Europa League Final this evening with a spectacular 4-1 victory (7-1 on aggregate) over Athletic Club.
The Red Devils will be heading to that same team’s home stadium of San Mamés in Bilbao in Spain on 21 May 2025, and you’ll be able to watch all the action right here at home in Manchester.
The AO Arena Europa League Final Screening & Fan Zone will be presented by Red Square.
If you think that name rings a bell, you’re right: they’re the same folks behind the regular events held over at Victoria Warehouse for any big United games, and 21 May will be no different – other than being arguably their biggest date ever.
There’ll be space for thousands upon thousands of football fans who’ll be able to watch Ruben Amorim’s side potentially take home their first piece of silverware since his arrival.
If you saw the scenes at Road to Victory in the AO during Euro 2024, you’ll know how unbelievable a venue this is to watch the footy.
As the promoters have billed it: “Get ready to immerse yourself in the electrifying atmosphere of the Europa League Final, presented by Red Square.
“Join us for an unforgettable event as we bring together passionate Manchester United fans for the largest indoor fan park extravaganza ever witnessed!
“MANCHESTER UNITED head to the UEL final on Wednesday, 21st May – Secure your tickets now!”
The Europa League Final Screening & Fan Zone will be at the AO Arena on 21 May.
Emily Sergeant -
14th March 2023 
