Pride made its grand return on Saturday 27 July during an event that is set to be its biggest and best yet.
2023’s event saw more than 10,000 visitors flock to the city to take part in the festivities, but organisers have promised an extra special day this year, with even more treats for visitors of all ages to enjoy.
This year will see lots of exciting new additions, including a brand new location in Sneinton, more fun for the whole family and a new, longer march route.
Leigh Ellis, chair of Nottinghamshire Pride, said: “Notts Pride 2024 is now just round the corner and we can’t wait to welcome visitors once again as we come together in celebration, recognition and solidarity of Nottinghamshire’s LGBTQ+ community.
“It’s set to be a great day with the same vibrant atmosphere and sense of community that visitors have come to expect from Notts Pride, but with a few updates that’ll certainly make it a day to remember.”
Ahead of all the action on Saturday, organisers have provided details of everything you need to know if you’re thinking of heading down to Notts Pride this weekend.
What is Notts Pride?
Notts Pride is an annual event that takes place across the city on the last Saturday in July, and is organised by the Nottinghamshire Pride charity. Serving as a way for Nottingham to come together in solidarity of the city’s LGBTQ+ community, Notts Pride always features an iconic march followed by a packed line-up of live acts on its main stage which is located at Sneinton Market this year.
Visitors will also be able to browse a variety of stalls from a range of charities, community groups, staff networks, and organisations who offer services and support to the county’s LGBTQ+ community and their families.
What time is the march and how do I take part?
This year’s march will have a slightly longer route to accommodate for the increased numbers of attendees the event has seen over the years. The new 1.2km will begin at 11.00am, with those looking to participate, encouraged to meet at the junction of Lister Gate and Castle Gate at 10.00am, where Notts Pride’s team of volunteers will direct attendees to a suitable position.
The march will then head towards Hockley and Goose Gate, before carrying on to its new end point at Sneinton Market.
How accessible will the event be?
The march route is through the streets of Nottingham, and while it does have a slight incline, the route is largely flat.
During the live entertainment at the Main stage, there will also be an accessible viewing area for those who use wheelchairs or who have mobility difficulties. And, for those who are hard of hearing, there will be British sign language signers during the whole show who will be clearly visible from the accessible viewing area.
Any visitors who are having difficulties should speak to one of the Nottinghamshire Pride stewards, who will be happy to assist.
What’s new for 2024?
The biggest change for this year is the event’s new central base at Sneinton Market. This will be the location for Notts Pride’s iconic main stage, while Sneinton Avenues will play host to an array of market stalls and an outdoor bar.
The move to Sneinton has been made both to accommodate the larger attendee numbers, but also to commemorate the controversial LGBTQ+ history of Sneinton’s Victoria Leisure Centre.
Will there be anything happening at Hockley this year?
For many years, Hockley was the home of Notts Pride, thanks to the area’s close ties to the city’s gay rights movement which dates back to the early nineties. And, while 2024 will see the event moving its main stage to Sneinton, Notts Pride will still have a presence in Hockley this year.
Those looking to celebrate the day among the vibrant streets of Hockley, will find lots to enjoy. Whether that’s music from the Broadway mezzanine stage, or popping in to the many bars across the area who are all celebrating the event. These include Lord Roberts, Rough Trade and The Angel Microbrewery.
There will also be lots of activity going on across the city, hosted by the Nottingham Gay Quarter Collective, including at the Golden Fleece, The Peacock, Six Barrels, Hole in The Wall and The New Foresters.
Who is performing on the main stage and at what time?
This year’s glittering line-up will be headlined by Drag Race UK star Tia Kofi, with other acts including international pop icon Nicki French, Nottingham alt-soul and pop singer-songwriter Rob Green, Dolly Parton tribute act The Dolly Show, midlands drag act Kenya Knott, Nottingham singer Ashly Song and the Singing Proud Choir.
Helping to keep the energy high throughout the day will be main stage hosts, popular drag acts Marilyn Sane, Nana Arthole and Liv who will be serving up plenty of laughs and keeping crowds entertained.
Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Nottingham East, and Tania Stevenson, Councillor for the village of Borrowash, will also be taking to the stage to share their thoughts during two engaging speeches.
Will there be any activities for families?
New for 2024, Notts Pride will be launching a Family Zone located at the courtyard outside Blend in Sneinton. There, visitors will find lots of games and activities for the whole family to enjoy. These include aerial displays, stilt walking and balloon art from Circus Hub Nottingham.
Meanwhile, the Family Zone will also welcome award-winning children’s author and equality, diversity and inclusion specialist and advisor, Troy Jenkinson, who has written a range of books for children with same sex parents. Troy will be joined by drag star, Kitty Tray who will be reading some of Troy’s popular books to families, as well as hosting an exciting treasure hunt for little Pride visitors.
How do I get there?
Nottingham offers a range of transport options for those looking to travel into the city whether by train, bus or tram.
For those looking to travel into the city by tram, Nottingham Express Transit (NET) will be running a slightly altered tram timetable to its usual Saturday service. This will include a dedicated timetable with an expanded service in the morning ahead of the march, with NET’s core trams set to run every five minutes, and a suspension of its service from Nottingham Station to the Royal Centre from 10:30am until 12:30pm to accommodate the march.
However, those travelling in by road should note that there will be a number of road closures to facilitate safe crossings during the march. Some of these closures will also affect some transport services in the city, such as NCT buses with some bus routes subject to route diversions and timetable changes.
Car parking is also available throughout the city and surrounding area. The closet car park is located on Stoney Street.
What do I do if I need help?
Throughout the day there will be a team of 30 Nottinghamshire Pride stewards who will be on hand to offer assistance with directions, crowd control and with any questions visitors might have. They will be clearly recognisable as the ones wearing high-visibility jackets.
There will also be a presence from both Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and St John’s Ambulance if any medical assistance is needed.
What safety measures will be in place during the day?
In addition to the Nottinghamshire Pride stewards who will be helping to keep people safe throughout the day, there will also be a team of 40 onsite security on hand as an extra level of support.
In addition, there will be hostile vehicle mitigation devices installed along the march route, and Notts Pride’s security teams will be monitoring the event from the control centre in partnership with police, fire and ambulance services.
Will I be able to bring my own alcohol to the event?
Visitors will not be permitted to bring their own alcohol and all glass bottles will be strictly prohibited. However, there are a wide selection of bars in and around Sneinton and Hockley that will be open throughout the day, as well as the new Notts Prideoutdoor bar which will be located in Sneinton for those who’d like an alcoholic drink.
Will there be any food available?
There will be no on-street food stalls, however, Nottingham is brimming with lots of food options across both Sneinton and Hockley.
Are dogs allowed?
Well-behaved dogs on leashes will be permitted.
How much does it cost to attend?
Now in its 27th year, Nottinghamshire Pride has always been free to attend for all, and this year is no different. It is a solely non-profit event organised by the Nottinghamshire Pride charity, and relies on sponsors as well as volunteers who give up their time each year to support by collecting donations, offering stewardship, general event support and more.
Will there be outdoor toilets?
There will be 27 toilets, including accessible toilets, located at Brooke Street at the corner of Gedling Street.