This weekend (Saturday, August 31) will mark the 21st annual Reading Pride celebrations with a host of local and national acts from and supporting diversity and inclusion within the LGBT+ community.
From 10am revellers will meet at the main entrance to Reading Station where they will get ready to set off at 11am in the one hour parade to Kings Meadow.
Thousands are expected to turn up to both cheer on and take part in the parade which takes place annually across Reading.
Reading Pride is one of the biggest FREE LGBT+ events in the UK and follows the celebrations in London and Brighton which took place over the month.
Following the parade, the main Love Unites 2024 Festival will take part - showcasing the best talent across the country as they travel to Berkshire.
This includes two stages which will be set up for crowds in Kings Meadows.
The Main Stage
The main stage offers an unending array of live entertainment featuring dynamic line-ups of performers.
From choirs to enchanting drag acts, there is someone to suit everyone
Direct from their West End run, the headline act on the main stage will be Queenz.
The ‘dragtastic’ group of divas will showcase top hits including ‘Queen Of The Night, Born This Way, Raining Men, I Will Survive, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and so much more!
Other acts performing throughout the day include Rock Choir, Bexx, Belle, Aaron Sibley, Lady M and many more.
Pride aLive stage
For the eight year running, the Pride aLive stage will feature several fantastic local artists and bands. These arts are either friends, allies and supporters of, or who themselves identify as LGBT+.
The music on the Pride aLive stage will be a mixture of original songs and popular tunes.
With a strong grassroots music community, many local performers are on the cusp of breaking into the professional industry.
Some local acts on this stage include Sophie Henderson, the Amazing Tigar Band, Readiophonics, Chelsea Blues, Liam King, Haylorr and many more music acts.
PrideDance
The Pride Dance tent is new for 2024 and aims to be a vibrant hub of energy and inclusivity at the heart of our Pride celebrations.
It’s a space where people from all walks of life come together to dance, celebrate, and express themselves freely. Pumping out infectious beats from a diverse range of DJs, and filled with a joyous atmosphere that is uniquely Pride.
Club F.O.D's community hub and stage
Club F.O.D has been organising dedicated LGBT+ nights in Berkshire since 2019, and it has evolved into becoming a registered charity that actively prevents social isolation within the LGBT+ community and carries out a wide range of activities to reduce social isolation where it already exists.
The Club F.O.D were invited into the PrideXtra tent in 2021 to trial a concept that explored how the Club F.O.D principles could and would translate to an outdoor event.
They proved that their approach supports the prevention of social isolation at Pride Festivals.
A dedicated area for the on-site community hub started in 2022 and will continue this year for the 21st anniversary of Reading Pride. The Club F.O.D area will include coordinated community resources, providing a safe space within a wider safe space where the F.O.D Squad spend the day connecting with other festival goers.
Reading Pride has said that they are excited to welcome people back to Club F.O.D, which was the first project of its kind at a UK Pride Festival.
Family area
Reading Pride is fully inclusive to all diversities and ages at the event. The team at NikNak will provide a full day of entertainment in the family area.
Entertainment will include discos, competitions and drag queen story time.
Quiet Zone and Safe Space
This area has been created to create value for people at the event aimed at providing a safe space for those who identify as neurodiverse.
This is a partnership between Deloitte, Fifi’s Vision and Reading Pride.
The partnership is all about providing a safe space for people at the event to reset and recharge who otherwise would have to leave the event.
NHS PrideInU
The Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust will take part in Reading Pride where they will be offering services at Kings Meadow between 12pm and 4pm.
Collaborating with their counterparts from the Royal Berkshire Hospital, they are set to establish an ephemeral wellness hub named ‘PrideInU’. This dynamic space will spotlight an array of health and wellbeing services, accompanied by a series of concise events, workshops, and sessions scheduled throughout the day.
Services include a health check, sexual health service, talking therapies, recruitment and retention and a veteran mental health and wellbeing service.
Inclusive Sports Area
In the vibrant world of sports, a captivating story of inclusivity emerges, to reshape the core of competition. The demand for more inclusiveness in sports resounds urgently, pushing to break down longstanding barriers that limit the realization of human potential.
In women’s sports, over 50% proudly identify as LGBTQ+, emphasizing the link between identity and athleticism, requiring a comprehensive, inclusive approach.
Reading Pride is working with Zebra Technologies for sponsorship, shedding light on the journey towards a sports landscape that is both diverse and fair.
In this area, you will find marketplace stalls from Berkshire Unicorns RFC, Sonning Hockey Club, Reading Renegades RFC, Berks and Bucks FA, Gay Outdoor Club and Outdoor Lads Club,
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