We’re less than five months away from Manchester Pride 2023 and as one of the biggest annual events in the UK, let alone the city, there’s a huge programme of events and activities on the cards.
Kicking off on Friday, 25 August, the celebrations are set to last the entire bank holiday, with the party not rounding off until Monday, 28 August.
We don’t need to tell you how special Pride is in Manchester but, whilst we’re here: the annual celebration of LGBTQ+ life not only brings people from all walks of life together to have fun, demonstrate and champion individuality and community, but it also won the award for ‘Best Large Festival’ last year.
Now, for Manchester Pride Festival 2023, there are six wonderful events that are all absolutely free to attend, however, the ticketed Gay Village Party around Canal Street is back as always and passes go on sale this Wednesday at 12pm. It promises to the bigger and better than ever.
Canal Street is the centre of the universe, especially during the Manchester Pride Festival.
A space for all members of the LGBTQ+ family to come together, the Gay Village Party is the heart of the legendary annual festival. The four-day street party will see a whole host of performances by artists and performers from the community, with non-stop music, dancing and all-round good vibes.
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Whilst the rest of the festival at large is free to enjoy at your leisure, tickets are required to enter the Gay Village Party performances in and around Canal Street.
You can purchase either day or weekend-long passes tickets, with all events scheduled on Monday 28 August free to attend, not to mention, low-income tickets, family packages and VIP options available.
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Better still, £2.50 from every ticket will be donated to the Manchester Pride Community Fund, with the money going directly to LGBTQ+ causes and projects around Greater Manchester through the distribution of grants. You love to see it.
Credit: Supplied
Ticket options and prices include:
Weekend: £37.50
Friday ticket: £21.00
Saturday ticket: £31.00
Sunday ticket: £31.00
Monday ticket: Free plus £2.50 donation
Diamond VIP (weekend): £182.50
Gold VIP (weekend): £122.50
To ensure the Manchester Pride Festival is accessible and inclusive in the midst of a cost of living crisis, more low-income packages have been made available as well:
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Weekend: £20.00
Friday ticket: £11.75
Saturday ticket: £16.75
Sunday ticket: £16.75
Manchester Pride 2023 free events programme
As for the rest of this year’s Pride Festival, you can access various different events for absolutely nothing and, always with the people behind this wonderful occasion, there’s plenty to be enjoyed.
Manchester Pride Parade
The main event: Manchester‘s biggest parade will be returning to the city centre on Saturday, 26 August, with the LGBTQ+ community and its allies marching for equality in front of thousands of spectators.
Superbia Weekend
You’ve also got ‘Superbia’, Manchester Pride’s year-round arts and culture programme, which offers a culturally rich alternative to other elements of the festival, creating space for all with a series of alcohol-free events and spotlighting new work from LGBTQ+ performers.
Human Rights Forum
Taking place on Friday 25 August, the Human Rights Forum will bring together prominent activists and thought leaders to discuss the challenges that continue to face LGBTQ+ communities today, and what we as individuals can do to bring about political and social change.
Family Pride MCR
It’s never too soon to start celebrating pride. Family Pride MCR provides a safe and inclusive space for people of all ages, ally or otherwise, to enjoy Pride celebrations, with a special programme of events designed for little ones.
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Youth Pride MCR
A safe and nourishing space for young people to experience Pride in a way designed just for them, Youth Pride MCR is a free event specially curated for those aged 14-18 fusing fashion, music, art, performance and creativity. Manchester Pride is the only UK Pride event to have a dedicated space for young people.
Candlelit Vigil
Last but not least, there is the Candlelit Vigil, which is the culmination of Manchester Pride, closing the four-day Festival on Monday 28 August with an ever-important moment of reflection in Sackville Gardens.
The home of Alan Turing, The National Transgender Memorial and the Beacon of Hope, the gardens are transformed into a sea of flickering candles to remember and honour those who we have lost to HIV, as well as those discriminated and persecuted against for being part of the LGBTQ+ community, both here Manchester, the UK and, indeed, all around the world.
If you’ve ever come across Manchester Pride before, you’ll know that it isn’t just a Manc event; people travel from all over the country and even the globe to experience this legendary festival.
Pride 2023 is set to be an absolute belter as always and whether you’re coming along for the free events or wanting hoping to be part of the iconic Gay Village Party, you’re guaranteed to have a great time.
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Once again, tickets for the Manchester Pride Festival 2023’s Gay Village Party go live at 12pm tomorrow (Wednesday, 8 March) and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
Freight Island is hosting the UK’s biggest Six Nations fan zone
Danny Jones
Freight Island’s Six Nations fan zone returns for 2025 at the end of this month and we’re so ready for seven weeks of rugby action and a river of Guinness.
The iconic international tournament gets underway on 31 January and so too does Freight Island’s fantastic fan experience, providing an unparalleled level of excitement beyond being inside the stadium.
Set to be even bigger and better than last year, it’s the largest of its kind anywhere in the country because, well, as well as know, Manchester sports fans do it better than anyone.
Promising everything from free pints and prosecco for ticket holders, live music, top-notch scran from Freight’s in-house vendors and more, it’s going to be another year to remember.
The Freight Island Six Nations fan zone is back for 2025. (Credit: Supplied)
Fuel for the sporting action
Launching in time for the first game between France and Wales on the final Friday of the month, the Freight Island Six Nations fan zone will be open for the full duration of the competition, showing all 15 fixtures across a seven-week period.
With the final not until Saturday, 15 March, you’ve got plenty of time to sample all the massive Manchester venue has to offer this year. Speaking of..
As well as a steady supply of drinks including a self-service Guinness machine, punters will be eligible for a free pint of Freight Island pilsner or a glass of Prosecco with their ticket.
To make things even sweeter, as well as the usual foodie favourites such as Fuku, Mia’s Arepas, Burgerism, Voodoo Ray’s; Mega Gyros, Oh! My Cheesecake and Soft Boi, Scouse chicken connoisseurs Pattersons are launching their brand new ‘American Buffet’. We’re talking proper game-day food.
Every Sunday, they’ll be serving up half-chickens brined and deep fried in their special spice mix, or a vegetarian nut roast, plus an all-you-can-eat sides including sweet potato, corn salsa, tater tots, cheesy grits, home-made corn bread and their famous gravy, all for £18 per tray
You can ever pre-order a full bird ahead of time if you like – consider this the Six Nations answer to Super Bowl-level feasting.
But isn’t all food and drink, of course: Freight Island will also be making sure to keep the energy high no matter what’s going on in the matches with DJs, music from live bands, as well pre and post-match content for you to enjoy. Let us explain.
In addition to sets by the likes of singer-songwriter Neeva Zahra, Paul Eden and other special guests, but they’re also be performances by the Pent Up Pipes band and Dizzy Brasscals to really get the atmosphere going.
Crowd interaction is essential to making these fan zones work, so if bagpipes and a brass band doesn’t get you hyped as the six sporting-mad continental countries go head-to-head for European glory, we don’t what will.
Freight Island have also partnered with The EggChasers rugby union podcast, who will be delivering podcasts live from the building, as well as fan content before and after the whistle, meaning you can also get involved if you fancy yourself an armchair expert.
Dizzy Brasscals is the best band name we’ve heard in ages. (Credit: Supplied)
Once again, the tournament last for a good month and a half, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to enjoy all of the above, as well as all the live rugby on the multiple screens dotted around the venue – including one very big one.
Freight Island opening hours during the Six Nations and throughout February and March are Friday (4pm-12am), Saturday (12pm-12am), and Sunday (12-8pm).
You can book your free tickets HERE and we’ll no doubt see plenty of you there.
Meanwhile over in rugby league, local side Salford Red Devils have found themself in a less than ideal position ahead of the new season after being hit with a new sustainability cap.
Featured Images — Press Images (supplied via Freight Island)
What's On
World-renowned rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd announce HUGE Manchester anniversary gig
Thomas Melia
Legendary Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd are returning to Manchester for a limited UK tour at one city’s foremost venues.
Six years since their last visit, we’re sure they’ve missed ‘That Smell’ of a Manchester crowd and it’s safe to say safe we’ve missed them too.
Known for our love of live music and gigs, there’s no better place to stop off at other than Manchester when you’re playing a world tour, especially celebrating the 50th anniversary of the band’s formation.
Their name needs no introduction, however, if you need a reminder of this band’s remarkable career then ‘Don’t Ask Me No Questions’.
Just kidding, the well-seasoned country and blues veterans from Jacksonville, Flordia are one of the most acclaimed acts to ever come out of the US; in 2006 they received one of the biggest honours any artist could wish for, getting inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.
With 14 official studio albums, several EPs and numerous live recordings, there are definitely more than enough songs to pack into one unforgettable night.
As one of just four dates here in England, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Manchester tour show is taking place at none other than the AO Arena, which has also reached a milestone in 2025 as they celebrate 30 years of unbelievable gigs. What better way to party than with a good ol’ fashioned rock show?
They won’t be travelling solo either, they’re also bringing Georgia-based rockers Blackberry Smoke as a support act, notable for their 2012 single ‘One Horse Town’ along with many others.
Rockin’ it out like they always do, bring on Manchester. That iconic Lynyrd logo will look immense in AO Arena this year.Credit: Supplied
They’ve chosen the right venue to belt the hits too and, ironically, they’ve chosen a Tuesday for their Manchester date, meaning you’ll be able to walk out of the concert singing ‘Tuesday’s Gone’ with more conviction than ever.
One thing is for sure, with a legacy as big as this, the rockers are guaranteed to have a great time. There might not be any founding members left following the passing of guitarist and songwriter Gary Rossington in 2023, but you can bet the current lineup will do the originals justice and then some.
Lynyrd Skynyrd visit the AO Arena in Manchester on Tuesday 15 July 2025 with tickets going on sale from Friday 24 January at 10am. You can grab yours HERE.
Danny Jones -
7th March 2023 
