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Manchester Pride Festival headliner Bimini pulls out of LGBTQ+ celebration

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 2nd August 2024

Bimini, one of the headliners of this year’s Manchester Pride Festival, has pulled out of performing due to the event’s main headline sponsor.

The drag artist, who placed as runner-up on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, said in a statement this week that they ‘cannot in good conscience perform at this year’s event’.

Bimini wrote that the ‘tough decision’ had been taken because of Manchester Pride Festival’s headline sponsor Booking.com, which is alleged to have profited from the occupation of Palestine (it’s been reported that the platform had listings in the Occupied Palestinian Territory between March 2021 and May 2023).

They said in their statement that ‘as an artist and activist, I stand for justice and accountability’.

Bimini is a familiar and popular face at Manchester Pride, having also nabbed a triumphant headline spot last year.

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The line-up for Manchester Pride 2024 also includes Sugababes, Jessie J, Eurovision star Loreen, Rita Ora, Katy B and Keala Settle, alongside a staggering list of LGBTQ+ performers and talent.

Bimini is the fourth artist to pull out of this year’s huge celebration, with BollyWitch, Felix Mufti and Dan Chan also refusing to perform for similar reasons relating to the event’s headline sponsor.

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Booking.com has said it’s ‘incredibly disappointed’ to head that Bimini has pulled out of Manchester Pride Festival.

Manchester Pride, the charity behind the huge August bank holiday festival, added that it ‘respects and understands’ Bimini’s decision and added that it continues to ‘engage in meaningful dialogue’ with Booking.com.

Bimini said in their statement: “After careful consideration, l’ve made the tough decision to withdraw from headlining the Friday night at Manchester Pride this year. This choice is not taken lightly; I deeply value the Manchester community and the celebration of love and diversity that Pride represents.

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“However, after learning of allegations against one of the event’s sponsors, Booking.com, I have decided I cannot in good conscience perform at this year’s event.

“Booking.com list vacation homes in disputed territories and has been blacklisted by the United Nations Human Rights Council as a company that has human rights violations concerns.

“As an artist and activist, I stand for justice and accountability. Bimini”

BIMINI. Credit: Publicity picture
BIMINI. Credit: Publicity picture

A spokesperson from Booking.com said: “We are of course incredibly disappointed, but we continue to engage with Manchester Pride on this topic to help understand the context behind our position.

“We firmly believe that it is up to travellers to decide where they want and need to go. Our role is to ensure that people can make an informed decision that’s right for them, and that includes accurately labelling listings in areas that are disputed or affected by conflict.

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“We also remain steadfast in our commitment to making travel easier for everyone, regardless of who you love or how you identify, and to our many partnerships with organisations like Manchester Pride that share in that inclusive vision.”

In a statement shared with the Manchester Evening News, David McGovern, the Chair of Trustees at Manchester Pride, said: “We respect and understand Bimini’s decision to withdraw from the Manchester Pride Festival. Manchester Pride has always valued the principles of freedom and liberation, and we honour each individual’s right to protest in their own way.

“The team at Manchester Pride stands in solidarity with all those suffering from the devastating war in Gaza and all the innocent people subjected to violence in Palestine and Israel. At our core, we value liberation and believe nobody’s free until everybody’s free.

Bimini's statement in full as artist pulls out of Manchester Pride. Credit: Instagram, @biminibabes
Bimini’s statement in full as artist pulls out of Manchester Pride. Credit: Instagram, @biminibabes

“After extensive discussions with Booking.com to understand their stance and actions regarding accommodation listings in occupied territory, we are continuing to engage in meaningful dialogue with them and our other sponsors.”

David also explained that, as a charity, Manchester Pride must utilise commercial revenue streams to fund their vital events, community work, and other charity objectives.

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He continued: “Manchester Pride and the LGBTQ+ community have a long, proud history of protest. We fully recognise, respect and support any artist’s decision to perform or not perform at the Manchester Pride Festival and we continue to stand by, facilitate and champion our communities’ right to protest.

“We are a listening charity, we continuously engage with our communities to ensure our programme of activities and grant-making meets the needs and priorities of intersectional LGBTQ+ people living in Greater Manchester. We continue to consult with our artists and communities to be able to provide authentic, meaningful support in the run-up to our vital celebration of LGBTQ+ life.”

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Featured image: Supplied

What's On

Bewitching Christmas light trail Northern Lights will return to Heaton Park this year

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Bewitching Christmas light trail Northern Lights will return to Heaton Park this year

The festive light trail that proved to be a smash hit last winter will make a return to Manchester this year.

Northern Lights has just announced a major return to Heaton Park, with a brand-new Christmas Time Machine theme.

The dazzling mile-long light trail will transform the park into a wonderland with 14 different installations, plus selfie spots along the route.

And there’ll be a limited Kids Go Free offer on select dates, as well as inclusive evenings with reduced capacity and lower audio levels.

Northern Lights attracted more than 100,000 visitors when it made its Heaton Park debut last winter, and received rave reviews across the board.

This year, A Christmas Time Machine will take place from 19 November all the way through to the end of the year, inviting visitors to step back into their favourite festive memories with a nostalgic collection in installations.

Original soundscapes, spectacular new illuminations, and even a marshmallow zone will bring the fully accessible trail to life.

Northern Lights is returning to Manchester
Northern Lights is returning to Manchester
Northern Lights is returning to Manchester. Credit: Supplied

Visitors will walk along Candy Cane Lane, admire a giant neon slinky, and ogle at shimmering nutcrackers.

There’ll also be vintage fairground rides, cosy festive pit stops, and an expanded Christmas Village with artisan food and drink producers from across the region.

Demand is expected to be high for this year’s festivities, with Early Bird tickets just released to get you the best value prices of the year.

Emma St.Croix, Senior Marketing Manager at From The Fields, said: “The response to Northern Lights Manchester last year exceeded all of our expectations.

“The warmth and enthusiasm from visitors made it incredibly special for our team, and we’re delighted to be returning to Heaton Park with something completely new.

“Since January, we’ve been reimagining every part of the experience. A Christmas Time Machine takes visitors on a journey through the festive moments that stay with us long after the decorations come down. Nodding to the traditions we return to year after year, the nostalgia of Christmases gone by, and the excitement of creating new memories together.

“We can’t wait to welcome visitors back and share this next chapter of Northern Lights with families, friends and loved ones from across the region.”

Northern Lights will also host dedicated inclusive evenings on Wednesday 2 and Wednesday 9 December. Visitor numbers will be reduced by 75%, with lower audio levels throughout the trail to create a calmer environment that may be preferable for some neurodivergent visitors and those who benefit from a more relaxed experience.

Northern Lights Manchester tickets

  • Kids Go Free offer – available on selected Off-Peak Early Bird dates until 31 August (or until allocation is exhausted. Use code KIDSLIGHTS before selecting tickets to unlock.
  • Early Bird Pricing
    • Peak tickets – from £17.25 including transaction fee
    • Off-peak tickets – from £13.75 including transaction fee

Book your tickets HERE.

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Featured image: Supplied

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A Thomas the Tank Engine replica steam train is travelling through Greater Manchester this summer

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Everyone’s favourite little blue engine is making another return to Greater Manchester once again this summer.

But this time, it’s with a rock and roll twist.

After delighting families throughout the region during countless successful events over the past couple of years, East Lancashire Railway (ELR) has announced that the Thomas the Tank Engine replica train is back this summer, arriving in a couple of weeks for a ‘rocking good’ time.

In case you aren’t too familiar with the beloved Day Out With Thomas experience, it’s said to be ‘a train ride like no other’.

Families have the chance to hop onboard the replica of the cult-classic blue train character when he returns next weekend for a 45-minute trip through the Greater Manchester countryside.

Everyone’s favourite little blue engine is making another return to Greater Manchester this summer / Credit: ELR

The journey begins at Bury Train Station, where you’ll be greeted by The Fat Controller, meet Sir Topham Hatt, say hello to Thomas on the platform, and then climb aboard a carriage, all before Thomas makes a final stop at the beautiful Ramsbottom station. 

The doors to Bury Transport Museum will also be open across the weekend and will be hosting loads of fun free activities.

On the Day Out With Thomas: Let’s Rock, Let’s Roll Tour, families will be able to watch and dance along to exciting live shows with Sodor Station Sweepers Rusty & Dusty, join in the Thomas and Friends character hunt, have fun with garden games, keep the beat going at the ‘Music Corner’ packed with music-inspired fun, and so much more.

Thomas will be stopping at East Lancashire Railway this year on 18-19 July so there’s plenty of opportunities to see him, and tickets are now on sale.

Ticket prices start at £14.50 for kids, and £24 for adults.

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A range of family ticket options are also available, and children under two years old can ride with an adult for no extra charge.

Find out more and grab tickets here.

Featured Image – ELR

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