Blackburn Pride is returning for a second year this weekend as the town celebrates its LGBTQ+ residents.

Following a successful first year in 2022, the event will once again bring swathes of colour and celebration to the town centre on Saturday, June 17.

Here is everything you need to know about this year’s edition.

Lancashire Telegraph: The parade at the Blackburn Pride event in 2022The parade at the Blackburn Pride event in 2022 (Image: Lancashire Telegraph)

The pride event will kick off at 12pm with a parade, starting at the bus station and heading through the town centre towards King William Street.

The parade will be led by the Blackburn Pride Committee, including its chair Cllr Jim Shorrock and secretary Cllr Julie Gunn, MP for Blackburn Kate Hollern, and deputy mayor Cllr Sylvia Liddle.

 

Following the parade, an afternoon of entertainment will then be held outside the town hall, going on until 6pm.

READ MORE: Blackburn Pride to return to town centre for second year

The entertainment will be hosted by local drag artist Tinker Paradise, who says they are “over the moon” having been asked to host after being unable to attend last year.

Tinker Paradise – otherwise known as Michael Mahon – works as a supported housing coordinator for event sponsor Together Housing and has been a drag artist since his younger years, touring pubs and clubs across the country.

Lancashire Telegraph: Tinker Paradise will be hosting the Blackburn Pride entertainment in the afternoonTinker Paradise will be hosting the Blackburn Pride entertainment in the afternoon (Image: Tinker Paradise)

After a hiatus of around 20 years, Michael, 60, brought Tinker back to the masses during the pandemic, with his alter-ego quickly becoming an online sensation.

He said: “I used to do it years and years ago. I used to trek up and down the motorway in the back of a van doing my lippy sat on a bucket. But about 20 years ago, I gave it up.

“During the first lockdown, I was bored. So I got the things down from the loft and, once a week, on bin day, I’d take the bins out in full drag. We filmed it and put it online for a laugh and it just took off.

“As someone who has grown up in Blackburn, I was absolutely over the moon to be asked to host. I thought they might ask me to attend this year, but never thought they’d ask me to host the whole event.

READ MORE: Blackburn celebrated with Pride at inaugural event

“It’s great that Blackburn has its own pride event. It has to start somewhere, and it’s great for local businesses. I’m really looking forward to it, but I’m a bit terrified as well as it’s been 20 years since I’ve been on the stage.

“There are some really good acts on, and people are coming up from London, Brighton, Devon, all across the country.”

Among the rest of the entertainment is rock band Beth Blade & the Beautiful Disasters, a four-piece from Cardiff providing a dose of old-school rock.

Returning for a second year is local musician Sameno, who will be headlining having closed the event last year.

Lancashire Telegraph: Cllr Jim Shorrock (centre) is the chair of the Blackburn Pride CommitteeCllr Jim Shorrock (centre) is the chair of the Blackburn Pride Committee (Image: Lancashire Telegraph)

Another local band, Blowjangles, will entertain the crowds with their mixture of ska and reggae tunes.

Completing the entertainment line-up is singer Phil Norcross, Blackburn People’s Choir, American rock band The Ugly Club, and drag artist Dixie Norm.

Cllr Shorrock said: “I’m really pleased it’s happening for a second year running, considering that as little as 15 months ago I got a comment from a gentleman saying Blackburn wasn’t ready for Pride.

“I think our first year was a tremendous success and I’m hoping this year will be the same, especially if the weather is kind to us.

“As long as people come, enjoy themselves, remain hydrated during the day, and dress appropriately for the weather then I think everybody will enjoy themselves.”

Cllr Julie Gunn added: "We're really excited and we're really proud to be doing Pride again. We're still a fairly new and small committee but we've got some really good sponsorship and some really good support from the town.

"It's been hard work [putting it together]. We're all doing this on top of other jobs but we believe it's the right thing to do, to celebrate our rich diversity."