Thanet Pride (Margate)

Pre-Pride Party

Event Time/Date: Friday, 23rd July - 9.30pm til late

Event Location: Sundowners Bar, Albert Terrace, Margate, Kent (CT9 1UJ)

This year, the Sundowners Bar shall host a Pre-Pride Party with the multitalented multi-instrumentalist Ray Golding.

Pride Day Celebrations

Event Time/Date: Saturday, 24th July - 11.00am til late

Event Location:

The event shall begin with an "Icons & Legends Parade".  Gathering at the Winter Gardens in Fort Crescent at 11am, the colourful procession will set off down the hill to the seafront at 11.30am, congregating at Marine Drive.

Admission: Free

A Little More Info:

A parade of flags, whistles and dazzling costumes will signal the start of Thanet Pride 2010 on 24th July when it returns to Margate for a fabulous fourth year. Anyone is welcome to join in the procession, which begins at the Winter Gardens at 11am, and a cash prize (sponsored by Back Stage Costumes, Ramsgate) is to be awarded to the best dressed as an Icon or a Legend!

Celebrating diversity in all its vibrant colours, the seafront event aims to bring together the entire community – lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, straight, young or young-at-heart – for a fantastic, family-friendly day out.

What to Expect on the Day:

“The Pride Icons & Legends Show” is to feature first class tributes to Lady Gaga, Freddie Mercury, ABBA, Karen Carpenter and George Michael.  The line-up also includes top vocalist A Boy Called James, Pink Paper Readers’ Award winner The Drag With No Name, recording artist Michael Hinch, singing sensation Jamie Watson, along with international drag stars Kitty Monroe (who will also be performing at a post-Pride party at Sundowners Bar during the evening) and Ava La Putain, plus talented local favourite Ben. Your host this year is Broadstairs psychic Robert Doyle, who is making his Thanet Pride debut along with London band Moon Shot.

Other Features Include:

Stalls, trade stands and a funfair will fill Marine Terrace with activity, and following the official opening by civic dignitaries, a full programme of superb live entertainment will take to the stage.

Committed to inclusion, Thanet Pride will, for the first time, be sign interpreted for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Sponsors:

Backed by Margate Charter Trustees, Thanet District Council, Thanet Leisureforce, Brief Encounters, Sundowners Bar and Back Stage Fancy Dress, and in conjunction with the KM Group, the festival hopes to continue its success in 2010, which last year saw over 15,000 people from across Britain and Europe fly the rainbow flag with pride.

Last year Margate again played host to its annual pride event on the sea front in Marine Drive. This was held on the 18th of July, 2009 and boasted live entertainment, fair ground rides, markets and stalls shall be lined up to present pride in this traditional seaside town. This was a free event that is aimed to attract not only the LGBTQ community but also a great day out for families looking to join in from the local community and beyond... You can expect a very family feel from this festival.

Interestingly, in 2008 Canterbury held an exhibition called "Pride Moments". It was the work of 18-year-old photographer Louise Hobson, chronicling last years Thanet Pride in Margate. Hobson, whose work was influenced by artists such as Nan Goldin and Diane Arbus, set out to "celebrate people's difference and contradict the stereotypes that most people have."