Summer Festival Week - Sat 25th July - Sun 2nd August 2009

The summer festival runs for a whole week, with a fantastic array of events happening across the city; keep your eye on the whats on page for up to date listings. The official summer Pride Guide is out now. You can pick up your copy free from venues across Brighton, Hove and South London. As this is the only official Brighton Pride magazine you can be sure it will have everything you need to know about the summer festival week, main event on Preston Park and the Carnival Parade.

Click here to watch a video clip of 'Pride's got Talent' 2007 at The Queens Arms

The Carnival Parade - Saturday 1st August 2009

The application process is now closed. Please ensure you have completed an application form and paid your fee! Please download an application form and read the guidance notes fully before completing your form. If you need any help with your application please contact the Pride office on 01273 775939.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Parade meeting on Saturday 6th June and a special thank you to The Holiday Inn on Kings Road where the meeting was held and who really looked after us.

The Carnival Parade sets off at 11am from Madeira Drive next to Brighton Pier. The route takes it along the Kingsway, up West Street, down North Street, left onto the Old Steine, along Marlborough Place, Gloucester Place, London Road, Preston Road, arriving at Preston Park from around 1pm.

The Carnival Parade route is lined with thousands of people every year, so get there early to ensure you bag yourself a good spot. If you have any access requirements that may make your viewing of the parade difficult please see the Access section below.

Click here to watch a video clip of the 2007 Parade.

Click here to watch a video clip of groups building their floats for the 2007 Parade.

Click here to watch a video clip of Pride in the Park 2007.

Main Park Event - Saturday 1st August 2009

Preston Park will be accessable from midday on Saturday, about an hour before the Carnival Parade arrives and with all entertainment and events finishing by 8pm. Entrance to the park is FREE, with the exception of the Pride Members' Area

The park will be packed with masses to do, no matter who you are, where your from, what you like or how you like it there will be something to interest you. There will be music tents, cabaret, trade stalls, Community village, funfair, access tent, food stalls and bars.

What you'll find...

Pride Members' Area - Free to all Pride member's, or £25 to non members on the day. The garden and bar are a great place to sit back, people watch and mingle. Food is courtesy of Foxy's Roast & Grill in Hove, order your Foxy's Pride Picnic Box in advance and collect it on the day by calling 01273 776661. A picnic box for two will set you back just £20 and Includes 2 1/4 chickens with lemon and  herb dressing or rotisserie honey glazed ham and side slads with a choice of  dressings, large tub of coleslaw, rustic bread rolls with butter and two of their famous secret dessserts. See www.foxysbrighton.com To join Pride see our Member's Page.

Barclays Community Village - Back again for the third year, the Community Village kindly sponsored by Barclays, is the place to find stalls by local and national charities, groups and organisations. Many of the stalls are given free by Pride for these organisations to promote their LGBT work, issues and charitable aims.

Big Screen Entertainment - Missed the Carnival Parade? Don't fret, for the first time there will be a HUGE screen near the Pride Members' Area showing footage all day from the Parade, tents around the park as well as messages and information.

Marque II - New sponsor's Marque II, the sports car club will have one or two of their little beauties at the park for us all to drool over.

Beds in Brighton - A new area next to the Pride Members' Area, by invitation only.

Brighton Marina - Bring an oasis of calm with a beach, palm trees, red phone boxes, half naked boys and two union jack minis.

The Co-operative - One stop food shop.

Pride Information Points - To help you make the most of everything on offer. From running times to post Pride events, Park maps, how to party and play safely plus market stall information you’ll find it all here. And, for the first time you will be able to buy Official Pride Merchandise at each info point as well as sun cream sachets, courtesy of sponsor SunShots.

Curiosity Cabaret Tent - This year the cabaret tent has a new look as Curiosity Clubbing and Corbett Lee stepped up to sponsor this very popular tent. Lady James is your hostess with the mostest. Here's your fantasic line up for the day:

2pm - Lady James
2.10 - Sally Vate
2.25 - Lady Imelda
2.30 - James Bedford (A Boy Called James)
2.45 - Dame Margot
2.50 - Davina Sparkle
3.10 - All Mouth & No Trousers
3.30 - Jamie Watson
3.45 - Miss Jason
4.00 - Maisie Trollette
4.15 – Toppin & Butch
4.35 – Betty Swollocks
4.40 - Sandra
5.00 – Jo Francis
5.15 – Rose Garden
5.35 - Pride
5.45 - Pride’s Got Talent Winner
5.50 - Connie Conway
5.55 - D.E. Experience
6.15 - Lola Lasagne
6.35 - Nicolette Street
6.50 - Dave Lynn
7.10 - Drag With No Name
7.30 – Pride Beside the Seaside Finale

Calabash Tent - Calabash is about cultural diversity within the LGBT community. DJs play RnB, hip hop, old skool, ragga, reggae, bollywood, funk, soul and disco all afternoon.

Bears/Men's Zone - Join the sexiest men, beefy bears, cute Cubs and some of the hottest DJ’s playing House, Disco, & club classics from some of the UK’s favourite Bear/men’s club brands.

Paul Wilde Line Dancing Tent - Run by Lines and Bears, the longest running club of its kind in the UK.

Spectrum Access Tent - For the 5th year running Spectrum will be hosting an Access Tent with the Federation of Disabled People as a safe base and chill out space for LGBT people with disabilities or mental health difficulties.

Trans Community Tent - A space for anyone who identifies as transgender, transsexual, or questions their gender identity. It will be staffed by volunteers from The Gender Trust and The Clare Project.

Southern Water Cafe - Have a free drink of water and learn about the benefits of drinking water from Mr Drink-It, a giant water bottle costume character and Mr Save-It, a huge water butt character.

Women's Performance Tent - Pride in Brighton & Hove and Brighton Women's Centre present a fabulous mix of performers to move, soothe and entertain you, compered by Cat Harding, Julie Jepson, Yvo Luna and Nicky Mitchell.

Wild Fruit Dance Tent - Massive 5,000 capacity dance tent, pumping out dance music from some of the UK’s finest DJs it is non stop all afternoon.

Girl Action Bar - With special guest DJs, performers, giveaways and a new exclusive VIP champagne area the girls tent will be the hottest area in the park!

Popstarz Bar - Situated between the fun fair and Wild Fruit tent this top London club will be playing indie music all afternoon.

Vavoom Bar - Popular city venue comes to the park for the first time.

You will also find: A Market - Fun Fair - Food and Official Roaming Bars

To view our park map click here. Pick up a copy of our free Summer Magazine, available across the city now. If you live further afield and would like a copy of the magazine, please send us an A4 sae with 70p worth of postage, and we'll send one back to you.

Disabled Parking and Access

Pride is working closely with Brighton & Hove Federation of Disabled People once again to make our event as accessible as possible. Information and registration for disabled parking will be available on their website nearer the time.

Stalls at Preston Park

If you are interested in a trade stall in the market area, a food pitch, a charity stall in the Community Village (some of which are FREE!) on Saturday 1st August, 2009 please contact our production company Wilde Ones on info@wildeones.co.uk or visit their website at www.wildeones.co.uk

FAQ's

Want to know more? You will find the answer to most questions on the did you know page

Getting There

It is important to plan your trip to next year's summer festival in good time. For directions, weather and help with accommodation keep your eye on visiting brighton