Days out

The flamboyant circus-themed Pride Parade will march through Broad Street, Market Square and Forbury Gardens before making a grand entrance at the festival site
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Thousands expected for Reading Pride

By Karen Jordan
September 07, 2012

Reading Pride is coming to town tomorrow – and it promises to be loud and proud.

Among the star attractions will be 80s chart-topper Hazell Dean.

King’s Meadow will be the scene for the ninth Reading Pride, which is set to be bigger and more outrageous than ever before.

Starting at 11am from Reading Civic Centre, the flamboyant circus-themed Pride Parade will march through Broad Street, Market Square and Forbury Gardens before making a grand entrance at the festival site.

Last year, the event attracted more than 15,000 visitors and organisers hope that even more people from across Reading will come along from noon to 8pm to celebrate lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) communities.

Hosted by Reading’s own Wilma Fingadoo, Sandra and Newcastle’s popular Misty Lee, the main stage promises something for everyone.

The line-up on the main stage is:

Thames Valley Gay Chorus – 12.40pm-1pm
Jo Francis, powerful and witty UK vocal artiste – 1.10pm-1.30pm
Plopolina S***storm, a unique drag artist – 1.30pm-1.50pm
New Inspirations, the Wynford Arms’ own vocal group – 2pm-2.20pm
Steve Hitchens, singer of studio album ‘Infamous’ – 2.20pm-2.40pm
Greymatter, all-girl British pop rock band – 2.50pm-3.10pm
L Project, an ongoing Anti-LGBT bullying campaign performed by Greymatter – 3.10pm-3.20pm
Kelly Wilde, Australian singer and Eurovision performer – 3.20pm-3.40pm
Benji O’Fficial, slick pop and rock vocalist – 3.50pm-4.10pm
Sam Solace, singer/songwriter – 4.10pm-4.30pm
Jason Prince, UK’s number one male Hi NRG artist – 4.40pm-5pm
Hazell Dean – 5pm-5.20pm
Mizz Lyrikal, urban artist set to be the new Missy Elliot of the UK – 5.30pm-5.50pm
Tight Fit, reformed 80s band famed for their UK No.1 hit ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ – 5.50pm-6.10pm
Kitty Brucknell, X Factor finalist and singer/songwriter – 6.20pm-6.40pm
Angie Brown, the all-powerful dynamite house soul and gospel diva – 6.40pm-7.10pm

Scott-Austin Shaw of LGBT Campaign Steering Committee, said: “We, as a community have so much to be proud of, and yet have still much more to fight for.

“To all those attending Reading Pride, I wish you all a great time, enjoy yourselves and maybe spare a thought for those who fought and inspired such an event to exist.”

Visit www.readingpride.co.uk.

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@David Trent, I've been waiting for that all day too, I'm sure someone will be along with the tired and predictable "I've got nothing against gay people but..." or "Straight people don't have a parade, why do gay people need to make such a noise about their sexuality blah blah blah" nonsense, as per every other year.

@Cadoxton, the Pride festival at Kings Meadow has previously been free entry so I'd expect it's the same this year. Looking at the Reading Pride 2012 website it very much appears that, as with most of the smaller Pride Festivals, it survives and if funded through donations, sponsorship and the hard work of a number of volunteers.

Twyford, Woodley
26/09/2012 at 09:03

Shame on the organisers.. the power at the dance tent was cut 45 minutes before it was due to end because the main stage area was not as busy as they wanted due in part to the music being pretty rubbish whilst the dance tent really delivering a great time. No warning or reason was given.. just done out of spite.

Midly Annoyed, Reading
11/09/2012 at 08:31

Unison Jabba well thats a first, he must have had his wallet out then.

bugleman, reading
10/09/2012 at 16:34

Bugleman, Tony Page was there? What a surprise, I take it the public amenities were up to scratch then?

Unison Jabba
10/09/2012 at 12:59

Is there any connection between this event/story and the call for nominations for "Pride of Reading" on the site today

If not - then one or other of the events/organisations need to consider a name change !

A Wellwisher
10/09/2012 at 11:03

It was a very nice day out plenty of entertainment.and lots of people attended. open day kings meadow baths, my children were very disappointed with (reading borough council ) who let this place rot for years, And asking questions to Bob o'neill Why did reading borough councilers TONY PAGE . shame on them. what are they going to do about it and are thay helping you to do the place up . lot of people attending Reading Pride we're very concerned for lack of interest from reading borough council. While not very helpful with Bob o'neill to get this facility working properly. kings meadow will serve reading all the people of reading and also children and the disabled and the baths will be made for kings meadow baths. somthing members of reading borough council do not care about this is what i have heard on the day. If thay decided to bring this place up to the 21st century it be a good day out for all. And also it will stop all drunks and so on at kings meadow on a night i can see them from my window i live close. reading borough council only want to sell this place for development. No more meadow no playground. so TONY PAGE, and all you counciles who work for us stand up for the kings meadow baths and give the disabled and older and younger same dignity it is our money you deliberately wasted so to sell this place to kings meadow baths, not forgotten you sold the swimming pool next door and also shoot down the toilet which still there next to the house. so let us see if Tony page and the rest of them make a statement in the reading post or the radio or TV. I challenge TONY PAGE, to make a statement why as he not done what he gets paid for. his he for kings meadow baths or the developers. lets wait for his statement also from our MP many thanks to Bob o'neill for the open day and may i say showing us the plans it looks grate . At least he is trying, and tried to do something for reading not for his pocket.

bugleman, reading
10/09/2012 at 09:57

Do hope the Muslim community will turn out in force to join in the fun and celebration of diversity.

HWK_UK, Reading
07/09/2012 at 22:34

Big P - I wish! Apparenty some readers found it extremely offensive and no doubt brought them many sleepless nights as a result...

Hugh J, Reading
07/09/2012 at 16:47

'Plopolina' . . . that's got to be the BEST drag artist name ever!

Common Cents, Reading
07/09/2012 at 15:23

You harking back to your former user name Hugh?!

Big P, Reading
07/09/2012 at 15:15

Yes, the entrance could be like the one at the Granby. Correction though, what I meant was, is this a free event to the public and if yes then who is funding it ?