AS CLICHED as it may be, Mark Fletcher says he has a huge sense of pride as he walks through the city centre every year just as the city’s annual LGBTQ+ celebration gets underway.
Mark, who has played a huge role in Manchester Pride since 2004 and has been CEO of the charity organisation for the last eight years, says it is only hours before the festival kicks off that he is able to truly soak up just how varied the four-day celebration is.
This year’s Pride will see parades, parties and live entertainment take place throughout the city region over four days as part of one of the UK’s biggest celebrations of the LGBTQ+ community.
But, as has always been our style, we do things differently here. Mark says he is always stunned by what organisers and performers are able to put out on stage.
“I’m probably feeling more proud than ever,” Mark tells the M.E.N. “The run-up is always an anxious time for me because I know what’s in store and the immense scale of what we’re delivering but the excitement is through the roof.”
Mark says he and his team have been carefully planning this year’s event and annual parade since May 2022 - some three months before last year’s Pride even took place.
First introduced last year, the Gay Village Party at Sackville Gardens - which is the only official ticketed aspect of this year’s Pride - will continue to be the main hub for live music and entertainment featuring local and international performers. The area - a change from the huge Mayfield Depot site where the music festival was hosted for two years - was created in part due to responses from the community.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 26, 2023 من Manchester Evening News.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 26, 2023 من Manchester Evening News.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Carsley's gamble backfires as his lopsided England side fail to inspire
LEE Carsley's chances of becoming Gareth Southgate's permanent successor as England boss received a major blow as Greece paid tribute to George Baldock with a historic 2-1 Nations League win.
SQUAD GOALS Right now, United don't have players to score enough
WHEN Erik ten Hag returns to Carrington next week, as he is now expected to do, he will try to find an upturn in performance that could prolong his stay in the United hot seat.
Haaland lends voice to growing fears over fixture list
‘IT'S STARTING TO BECOME AN AWFUL LOT OF MATCHES' ERLING HAALAND
'Predator' raped woman on bus
A 'DANGEROUS sexual predator' raped a vulnerable woman on the top deck of an X43 bus service to Manchester city centre.
Downing Street denies Rayner security 'snub'
ANGELA Rayner has been left out of the permanent membership of the UK's National Security Council (NSC), despite being Deputy Prime Minister.
Kate's hugs and thanks for 999 workers
THE Princess of Wales delivered hugs and a heartfelt \"thank you\" to the emergency workers called to the fatal Southport stabbings after meeting the children's bereaved families.
Milton brings misery
HURRICANE Milton brought misery to a coast still ravaged by Helene as it ploughed into Florida as a Category 3 storm, pounding cities with winds of over 100mph after producing a barrage of 150 tornadoes.
Towering vision of plans for new 44-storey skyscraper
NEW BLOCK WOULD BE OPPOSITE DEANSGATE LOCKS
Rapper Aitch refuses to mind his Ps and Qs
MOSTON MUSICIAN ALWAYS WANTS TO KEEP HIS 'MANCHESTER' SOUND
YouTuber jailed over vile rant outside asylum-seeker hotel
HOMELESS FORMER CHEF STIRRED UP RACIAL HATRED WITH LIVE BROADCAST WITH AUDIENCE OF OVER 30,000