Exeter - Exeter Pride 2012

Exeter Pride's 2012 festival comes to the city on 31st March.

This free day-long community event includes a parade, stalls, workshops, music and various performances throughout the afternoon and into the evening across the venues in the Exeter Phoenix and also around Exeter's City Centre.

An LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender) festival held annually in the heart of the city, this year it will include other events taking place during the week before Pride Day and end on Sunday April 1 with a Candlelit Vigil.

Now in its fourth successful year and bigger and better than ever, Pride Day is a FREE event, thanks to our many sponsors and a hard-working committee of volunteers and trustees who work hard raising funds all year long to ensure that Exeter Pride takes place.

Pride Day this year will include a Rainbow Flag Parade through the city centre plus plenty of entertainment, including music, song and dance plus things like legal workshops, drumming, a big debate and so much more! There will be cupcakes, condoms, clowning and campness, just to mention things that begin with the letter c! – it’s all going to be there for you, so come along and enjoy it with pride!

With new events being added this year such as the Candlelit vigil to end the weekend, Exeter Pride is all about the friendly welcome the LGBT community prides itself on – no matter who you are or where you come from.

The Deputy Lord Mayor of Exeter, Cllr Kevin Mitchell, accompanied by his consort, his civil partner Ian Rutland, will start the parade, which will leave the St Sidwell Centre at 11.30am. The parade will be lead by a fire engine provided by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. Firefighters will also be marching in the parade, as will officers from Devon and Cornwall Police. Students from the University of Exeter will also be taking part. Exeter-based Samba band “Street Heat” will provide musical entertainment during the parade, with representatives from community groups, as well as individuals, will also be taking part in the parade

All the events and activities throughout the day are free of charge and family-friendly. This will include stalls, workshops and same-sex Latin and Ballroom dancing. There will be drumming, Zumba dancing, Burlesque, a legal workshop, trans women's workshop, photographic studio and family creative activities.

Finally to round the day off there will be DJs and live bands throughout the evening at Exeter Phoenix.

The first 500 people who attend Exeter Pride will receive a free goody bag.

Contact the Exeter Phoenix or visit the Pride website for more information.