Pride in Trafford makes a welcome return for 2023 with a four-day celebration

Pride in Trafford 2023 launched today (17 May) with the annual raising of the rainbow flag outside of Sale Town Hall this morning – the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). 

Pride in Trafford 2023 launch on Sale plaza © Life in Sale

The four-day festival will see a diverse selection of performances, from comedy to cabaret and physical theatre. The annual event, now in its fifth year, explores both identity and LGBTQ+ life across the borough.

The raising of the progress flag was witnessed by the Trafford Council Leader Cllr Tom Ross and Chief Executive Sara Todd, as well as pupils Park Road Primary School choir. The flag is the symbol that represents the LGBTQ+ community, first appearing in 1978 at the ‘Gay Freedom Day’ Parade in San Francisco. It has since been adopted across the world, with further colours added to the flag to represent the trans and BAME communities.

Producer for Pride in Trafford and manager of Waterside, Darren Adams said of this year’s event: “We are really proud of this year’s programme which features some thought-provoking and powerful pieces some of which we are thrilled to have helped nurture and develop through our Creative Industries Trafford initiative.”

Pride on the Plaza 2023 takes place on Saturday 20 May on Sale’s plaza © Dawn Kilner

The festival will come to a close with Pride on the Plaza, a selection of family-friendly activities taking place on the plaza outside Waterside and Sale Town Hall on Saturday (20 May) from 12-4pm. Mano a Bocca will host the festival’s closing party on Saturday night with a special cabaret night from 7pm.  

🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ For more information about the festival, visit prideintrafford.org.