Nottinghamshire Pride expected to be bigger and better than ever as it returns for 2024
Saturday 27 July will see the return of Nottingham’s official annual Pride celebration, Nottinghamshire Pride 2024, with organisers unveiling an exciting new location.
To support the staggering numbers of attendees in recent years, with last year’s event alone welcoming over 10,000 attendees, this year’s Pride event will include a brand-new march route, ending in the popular and vibrant Sneinton Market area.
The festivities are set to span the whole Sneinton market area, with the iconic Pride stage also set to be located there, and many stall holders expected to make the avenues their home for the day. The area of Hockley, known as the original home of Nottingham’s official Pride celebrations, will also be coming alive on the day with a colourful street party.
Leigh Ellis, chair at Nottinghamshire Pride said: “Hockley will always be our home, and we’re grateful to the residents and businesses in that area who have supported us every year by creating an inclusive and safe space for our community and its supporters to celebrate.
“It’s incredible to see how much the event’s popularity has grown year on year, but as a result, this year we’ve made the decision to update the march’s route, with a brand new end point in Sneinton Market. The new location will help immensely in ensuring we are able to keep all attendees safe, while also improving accessibility and the experience for the younger members of the community who want to join in the celebrations on the day.”
The extension to Nottinghamshire Pride is the most significant change to the event since it began in its current format in 2014, with the new location marking a particularly significant area for Nottingham’s LGBTQ+ community. Back in 1986, the area and neighbouring Victoria Leisure Centre was a site of mass protest and activism following fierce opposition from some locals surrounding the decision for the leisure centre to offer ‘gay-only swimming sessions’ at the height of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Leigh continued: “It feels particularly poignant that Sneinton will be the location for the end of the march, considering the negativity that surrounded the area almost 40 years ago, a sentiment which sadly still parallels much of the negativity you still see today for the LGBTQ+ community across social media. Activism and advocacy have always been at the heart of Nottinghamshire Pride, so it felt fitting to bring the march to a location which for many of Nottingham’s LGBTQ+ community serves as a reminder of our history, how far we’ve come, but also of the work that still needs to be done. This year, it’s all about reclaiming that history during our biggest and best event yet.”
Since its launch in 1997, Nottinghamshire Pride has been a solely non-profit event, relying on volunteers who give up their time each year to support by collecting donations, offering stewardship, general event support and more.
Nottinghamshire Pride is funded by the generous donations of businesses and locals each year, with the funds not only going towards the event but also helping to support the ongoing work the charity does to support the community throughout the year.
2024’s sponsors and supporters so far include Sladen Estates, MPG, E.ON, Boots, East Midlands Airport, Rolls Royce and Cartwright Communications.
Craig Martin, co-chair of Nottinghamshire Pride, said: “Each year Nottinghamshire Pride events epitomise our core pillars of acceptance, love and inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community across Nottinghamshire and beyond.
“Last year’s event was certainly incredible, but we’re really excited for what is already shaping up to be a truly special event this year. We know that for many, Nottinghamshire Pride is a day that’s not only a time for celebration, but also acts as a lifeline that allows members of the LGBTQ+ community to come together without fear of repression or barriers, and we can’t wait to see even more people join us this year.”