More than a thousand people transformed Southampton city centre into a vibrant spectacle on Saturday, marching in celebration of LGBTQ+ pride as a free day out was provided in Southampton. The event marked the start of the city’s annual Pride festivities, with a jubilant procession early in the daytime that began at Queens Park at 11am. Revellers wound their way through the historic Bargate, eventually arriving at Guildhall Square just in time for an afternoon of music and entertainment.
Southampton Pride is a family-friendly occasion, with activities designed for all ages. At the Southampton Guildhall a dedicated Youth Zone, offered entertainment for Children such as Drag Queen story hour and dance sessions led by the Jiggly Wrigglers. Warm, sunny weather was in sharp contrast to last year’s rain-soaked event, making the day’s festivities all the more enjoyable for participants and spectators of all ages and helped attract families and children for a free days entertainment.
As an event that benefits the community, Southampton Pride receives a range of funding from both national and local sources. The National Lottery Community Fund is among the event’s backers, providing grants of £10,000 and £20,000 in recent years. Since 2018, Southampton City Council has awarded the event nearly £28,000 in grants, according to publicly available figures. The council’s business improvement district, GO Southampton, is also believed to have issued additional grants, with its website listing awards of up to £5,000 per event.
There were some political messages at the event with a display and leaflets handed out by The Socialist Party.
Attendees were grateful for Southampton Councils support has helped make Southampton Pride accessible to families and young people, with a focus on inclusivity and community spirit. Some noted holding the event in Southampton Councils grounds at Guildhall was a great thing as it made the event so easy to get to in the City Centre. As the crowds gathered in Guildhall Square, the city’s Pride celebrations looked set to continue throughout the weekend, offering a lively programme of music, performance and celebration enjoyed by all age groups.
