Manchester Pride has staying power
One of the longest running events of its kind anywhere in Europe, the yearly festival that is Manchester Pride is an annual celebration of sexual freedom for gay and lesbian people in the north west of England and beyond.
Pride has had many different names since it was first launched in 1990, including “Mardi Gras”, “GayFest”, “EuroPride” and “Absolutely Fabulous”, but it wasn’t until 2004 that the name “Manchester Pride” was finally adopted. Originally it was centred around the August Bank Holiday weekend but in 2003 the event was officially established as 10-day long event.
Regardless of the name, the main point has always been the same; to provide a safe and fun environment for gay and lesbian individuals. This is done over the course of several days of music, art, and other cultural events all around the city of Manchester. Hotels can be difficult to come by in the city around this time, as you might expect but in recent sites online travels ites such as lastminute.com ave made it a little easier to find the best hotels Manchester has to offer.
And with so many different attractions, activities, and things to do at Manchester Pride you’ll want to be looking at Manchester hotels that are right in the city and close enough so that you will be able to enjoy all the action; and believe me, there is quite a lot going on in the city during the festival. There are a variety of sporting events that take place in various parts of the city, film showings, and parades, and of course we can’t forget the traditional “Manchester Mardi Gras” in celebration of the Bank Holiday.
But Manchester Pride does more than just help out the gay and lesbian community — the income generated in Manchester hotels, shops, and restaurants helps out everybody. While this is not a free event, the organisers do not make any money from Pride, and after the annual operating costs are paid for, any remaining profits are given directly to charity.
However, things haven’t always gone smoothly for the patrons of Manchester Pride. In fact, in 2002 the then “Manchester Mardi Gras” was cancelled over growing concerns regarding crowd safety issues. There has also been some bad blood between the organisers of Manchester Pride and the Manchester City Council, as well as much debate over the charity distribution process. Despite these past troubles, Pride continues to prosper and grow each and every year. And each year in Manchester hotels become harder to find in and around the city around the August Bank Holiday weekend.
About the Author
Max is an author, writer and editor. He is married with two children and a cat and lives in south east London.
This article first appeared on Amazines.com
