PRIDE CYMRU’S big weekend is back this Bank Holiday weekend and the crowds came out in their thousands for the first Pride in three years.
Former Spice Girl MELANIE C headlined the main stage to a sell out crowd on Saturday and WELSH OF THE WEST END on Sunday, more of them shortly. Just one thing to add about Sunday – the incredible BONEY M will also be appearing (don’t miss them).
Before we tell you more about the event and it’s history, here’s a look back at day one, in the bright sunshine of the Welsh Capital.
To use that well worn cliche ‘there’s something for everyone‘ is, well – cliched and well worn. The truth is we can’t actually tell you too much just yet as the weekend programme is still being finalised.
Simply put it’s 2 days of pure party atmosphere and extravagant entertainment in the heart of our capital. A celebration of the importance of LGBT+, people and culture in our communities as well as bringing more than 200,000 of us together in Wales’ capital city. In fact, have you ever looked at those festivals on the telly and thought how much you’d like to go one year? Well don’t worry, PRIDE CYMRU have brought the festival to our doorstep.
They’ve been doing this for a long time now, because of lockdown and missed events it’s difficult to put a number on it, so we’ll stick with the original Mardi Gras date which started in 1999 in Bute Park, by the Circle of Stones. Back then it was a one day thing and attracted around 2000 people.
Here’s a selction of our pictures from Saturday.
One of their long-standing committee members, Rob Keetch, who hosted the first ever Cardiff Mardi Gras, told us…
‘One of my favourite memories of the event was in 2006 when I spoke to a family who had driven all the way down to Cardiff from Scotland. Their 18-year-old son had just come out to them a few days before and they wanted to show him their support by celebrating diversity and inclusivity together as a family.‘
We suppose family best sums up the theme of the whole event. Everyone coming together, throwing a big party, celebrating something very special and having a great time in the process. That’s what families do.
Certainly the most colourful event in Cardiff’s calendar, it will be turning the City Hall Lawn and surrounding streets into a carnival of diversity, with funfair rides, amusements and entertainment from some of the UK’s biggest names in music, comedy and more.
As well as the annual Pride event which looks to connect the LGBT+ community physically, PRIDE CYMRU work throughout the year to increase engagement between different parts of the LGBT+ community so that we can support each other and grow as a united and empowered part of society.
They proudly work with organisations such as Glitter Cymru, Bi Cymru, Victim Support and the Deaf Hub Wales in a way that can benefit all parts of the LGBT+ community.
Steps singer and actor IAN ‘H’ WATKINS, who was born and raised in the Rhondda Valley, is one of the charity patrons……..
“This event is very close to heart and I am thrilled to be asked to be a patron. Pride Cymru does amazing work tackling homophobia and hate crime.”
On the Saturday PRIDE CYMRU’s Parade was back out on the streets of Cardiff with the brightest, most spectacular march you have ever see. It’s like someone throws the biggest bag of skittles all over town. At the last event there were more than 7000 participants from the Welsh community, proudly celebrating our diverse population.
This is definitely an event for everyone. All of us enjoyed, smiled, laughed, and cried and have only positive memories from day one and we’re sure today will be the same.
Of course, PRIDE is all about having fun and some incredible entertainment. This year, on the main stage. MELANIE C was the headline act on Saturday, with the fantastic WELSH OF THE WEST END today (Sunday).
From her rise to fame as one fifth of the most successful girl band of all time – The Spice Girls – to her successful solo career, Melanie C’s impact on music and pop culture has been nothing short of incredible. With 11 UK number ones under her belt and being the only female artist to top the UK charts as a quintet, quartet, duo and solo artist in British music history, Melanie’s talent has gained the recognition and devotion of critics and fans all over the world throughout the last 25 years
Melanie Chisholm, aka Melanie C and Sporty Spice, is one of the most successful international musical artists from the 90s with more than 108 million copies sold – 100 million as a member of the Spice Girls and 23 million as a solo artist over her 28-year successful career.
With over 15 million views online and 250,000 likes on social media, Welsh of the West End has become a viral sensation, featured by Official London Theatre, What’s On Stage, ITV and BBC.
The renowned musical theatre super group have entertained audiences internationally with their show-stopping versions of classic and contemporary musical theatre favourites.
Featuring Welsh performers from shows such as Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera and Wicked, the group have performed headline sets and made special guest appearances at prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall (with the BBC Concert Orchestra), Dubai Opera and the London Palladium, as well as representing Wales at EXPO 2020 in Dubai.
In summing up such a massive occasion I guess we would say it’s about bringing people together to help break down social barriers, which sadly still exist. They also do so much charitable good over the three days. Give people a chance to volunteer and be an important part of its success. Most importantly however, it’s great fun and with all this on offer, it really couldn’t be anything but…..
PRIDE CYMRU’S Big Weekend takes place over this August Bank Holiday, on the 27th and 28th August on Cardiff City Hall Lawns and in fact the whole of the city. It will be incredible, but on a practical note it will also be incredibly busy, so be aware of that if you are travelling in and around Cardiff. Please note that children under the age of 14 will have to be accompanied by an adult at the gigs.
In the meantime head to the website for all the information – PRIDE CYMRU.
