Northern Pride 2024: Everything you need to know as Pride returns to Newcastle

Northern Pride is bringing Pride back to Newcastle city centre this weekend, with events running from Friday, July 19, until Sunday, July 21.

The arrival of ‘Pride in the City’ is presented in partnership with Northern Pride and Newcastle NE1.

This year’s theme for the annual LGBTQIA+ community celebration is ‘Unapologetically Visible’ and will see festival favourites hosted at a number of locations and venues across Newcastle.

Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride, said: “We’re looking forward to a full weekend of celebrations, bringing together the wonderfully vibrant and diverse queer community and championing LGBTQIA+ talent.

“With the move from the Town Moor into the City Centre this year, we hope to create a space for everyone, and we’re really proud to have invested in zones such as the Family and Youth Zone, Health and Wellbeing and Sexual Health Zone, to ensure that Pride in the City remains positively beneficial to all of its attendees.

“A huge thank you to this year’s supporters and partners.

“We’re very lucky to have people on board who share our values and missions and support us in making each year bigger and better than the last.”

It is expected that the event will bring tens of thousands of visitors to the city centre so we’ve put together a guide that will give you everything that you need to know.

Read more: Northern Pride Announce Events Programme For Commissioned Artists

Northern Pride Arena:

Central Park, in Times Square, will host this year’s main stage - with a packed programme of performances across the weekend.

The line up is as follows:

• Friday, July 19: Friday will be hosted by Ophelia B, bringing the festival soundtrack with local DJs including James Barr, as well as Kroud Karaoke. 
• Saturday, July 20: Saturday will be hosted by Miss Rory, Paris Munro, and MXYM. Attendees can enjoy performances from singers Whigfield and Kelly Llorenna, Little Mix tribute act ‘Little Fix’, Northern Proud Voices, Newcastle Mela, Future is Queer and many more.
• Sunday, July 21: On Sunday, PlastiQ will join Saturday’s hosts. Rounding off the weekend will be performances from Fat Tony, winners of The Voice in 2023 Jen and Liv, and Curious Arts Youth Music, as well as appearances from Ginger Johnson who won season five of Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK. All ending with a candlelit vigil with free entry.

The candlelit vigil is to reflect and remember and will take place at 9pm after the last act on the main stage. Whilst tickets are needed for the arena, the vigil will be free and gates will open 10 minutes before the start for none ticket holders to arrive.

Curious Arts Stage:

This stage will take over the Northern Stage to showcase an eclectic programme of queer art and culture that celebrates and informs its audiences.

There will be a number of drop-in performances from some of the best local and national LGBTQIA+ artists and performers.

The free to attend performances will be open from Saturday, July 20, for all ages between 12pm and 5pm. An age recommendation of 16+ is suggested from 5pm until 7pm.

Family and Youth Zone:

The Family and Youth Zone will run in the newly renovated Assembly Rooms on Saturday from 12pm until 5pm.

The space will feature a number of live performances, workshops and readings - with the aim of bringing families and young people with shared experiences together.

Health and Wellbeing Zone:

Organisers have confirmed there will be a Health and Wellbeing Zone based at Newcastle Civic Centre from 12pm until 5pm on Saturday, July 20.

Advice and support will be available to visitors, along with a mobile sexual health clinic.

Stay up to date with NewcastleWorld’s latest headlines and get a newsletter delivered to your inbox

Sexual Health Zone:

As well as the Health and Wellbeing Zone, there will also be a dedicated Sexual Health Zone at the New Croft House, on Market Street.

The zone will be open from 12pm until 5pm on Saturday, where a team will be on hand to offer adults and young people advice, information, testing and treatment.

Market Village:

Pride will see vibrant market stalls placed throughout the street surrounding Greys Monument and Old Eldon Square.

These will be filled with community groups, charities, and lots of makers and creators, many of which use their work and their art to improve the lives of the queer community.

The market village will also include the Lumo Platform - a live performance stage hosted by PlastiQ, where there will be an array of talent, including the Ladies of Midnight Blue, an Afro-Latin percussion & brass duet, Ryan Petitjean, a North East singer song writer, and host and performer Carmen Silk.

Pride March:

The annual Pride March sits at the centre of the weekend’s events and will see thousands of LGBTQIA+ community members, allies, local people and businesses come together to fill the streets of Newcastle.

Starting at 12pm on Saturday from the Civic Centre, the March will then pass through Northumberland Street and Greys Monument before ending back at the start to continue the celebrations across the city.

Shuttle Bus:

Northern Pride have partnered with nexus to provide free travel around the city, ensuring that attendees can access and enjoy each element of the celebrations.

The Pride Shuttle Bus will be pulling up at bus stops across the city where key festival zones are taking place, offering a free hop on and off service available from 1pm-5pm across July 20 and 21.

For more information on the entire weekend, including tickets, visit: https://www.northern-pride.com/.