Exeter Pride returns for a weekend of celebration in the city centre
Published: 8 May 2024
One of the biggest free Pride events in the country returns to Exeter city centre this weekend.
Exeter Pride, a celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-plus (LGBTQ+) communities, takes place on Saturday 11 May with a march through the city centre and a host of other events.
The march will start in Sidwell Street, just off Summerland Street, gathering from 11.30am and beginning at 12 noon. It will head down the High Street and turn right on to Queen Street, ending just before Northernhay Gardens around 1pm.
The march will include giant rainbow flags, Street Heat samba band, Morris dancers, roller derby and thousands of representatives from community groups and organisations.
At Northernhay Gardens, between 1pm and 5pm, there will a variety of stalls from local vendors, charity organisations and wellbeing groups.
Food and drink will also be sold in the park and visitors are encouraged to take along a blanket and picnic whilst buskers and drag acts provide unplugged entertainment.
Music, cabaret, a drag competition, clothes swaps, family-focused events and more will be on offer at Exeter Library from 10am to 4pm and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum from 1pm to 4.30pm.
At Exeter Phoenix there will be family and youth zones, and acoustic music in the auditorium from 2pm until 6pm, and the afternoon will finish with stack of drag performers and a drag king competition! Later Exeter Phoenix hosts a party from 7pm until late.
Exeter Pride trustees and volunteers have built on the success of last year’s Rainbow Fayre by bringing back the march through the city centre and reintroducing Northernhay Gardens stalls for 2024.
Local resident Alan Quick had the idea of holding a regular Pride event in the city in 2008 and it was local LGBTQ+ charity Intercom and a small group of people, including Alan, which co-ordinated the first Exeter Pride.
It was held in Exeter Phoenix and Exeter Library in February 2009 to coincide with LGBT History Month. The first ever Pride march through the streets of Exeter took place in 2010 and in 2013 the event expanded to include a marketplace of local organisations and businesses.
For more information and the latest updates visit www.exeterpride.co.uk/ or follow Exeter Pride on Facebook or Instagram.