Blackburn town centre welcomed its third annual Pride celebration today, Saturday, with music, colours and crowds.
Blackburn Pride, now in its third year after starting in 2022, attracted people from across the borough and around the North West on Saturday, June 15.
Festivities began with the Blackburn Peoples Choir at 11.15am outside the Town Hall on King William Street, before the full parade at midday.
Leading the parade was Shadsworth Majorettes, local performers who formed in 2004 after the group was founded by Lisa Mariner.
Lisa, who is also the sustainable communities administrator at local charity Newground Together, part of the Together Housing Group who sponsored the parade, said: "The troop couldn’t be more thrilled to be leading the procession for Blackburn Pride.
"The event [is] such a lively and inclusive place to be and that’s the environment we promote at Shadsworth Majorettes too.
"This is a big honour to represent the community."
People came dressed in an array of costumes, carrying many versions of the rainbow and trans pride flag, which have come to signify LGBTQIA+ events across the world.
Among those in the parade were members of the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, Lancashire Police, Blackburn and Darwen's Royal British Legion branch, the leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Phil Riley, and the mayor and mayoress of Blackburn with Darwen.
Crowds were also joined by members of the Blowjangles band who played music such as "Get Up Stand Up" by Bob Marley at the back of the parade through town centre.
Lila Bennett, an attendee, said: "Seeing the town filled with so much love and support is really nice.
"It's wonderful to celebrate our community in such a vibrant way in our home town."
The event was hosted Tinker Paradise on a stage and festival area that had been set up, featuring dozens of small stalls with LGBTQIA+ merchandise.
Tinker Paradise, otherwise known as Michael Mahon, also worked as a supported housing coordinator for event sponsor Together Housing.
Kasira Ahmed, diversity and inclusion business partner for event sponsor Together Housing, said: "Together Housing and Newground Together are proud to be sponsoring Blackburn Pride for the third year running.
"It’s always a pleasure to support key community events like Pride and to have the Majorettes lead the crowd this year adds to the excitement."
As well as arts and crafts stalls, charities had been keen to support the event.
As festivities began on stage, organisers thanked attendees and volunteers who had made the event possible, and also organised a two-minute silence for people to remember the victims of the Nottingham attack and those in the community who have died.
The festival ran throughout the day and saw performances from acts such as Made for Stage, Q, Phil Norcross and Jason Kenny to name a few.
Cllr Jim Shorrock, chair of Blackburn Pride Committee, said: "It is with great pleasure that I continue to chair the Blackburn Pride Committee for the third year running.
"I wish to thank all those who joined us for our very first, and successful, Blackburn Pride event two years ago, and to those who attended last year also.
"The committee work very hard in ensuring Blackburn Pride 2024 builds on our previous success and ensure this continues to live up to the precedent we have set.”
