The programme for this year’s Kendal Pride has been revealed.
The event takes place in the town from Friday June 12 to Sunday June 14. This year’s theme is This is Home.
For the first time, the celebration will include a procession from the town centre to the Pride Village at Abbot Hall.
The new procession will set off from the Birdcage in the town centre on Saturday June 13 at 11.45am with a special 15-minute performance, before following a route along the riverbank to the Pride Village at Abbot Hall.
As part of the procession there will be road closures on Finkle Street and Kent Street between 11.30am and 12.15pm.
Entertainment, stalls, food vendors, free family activities and a climbing wall, will take over Abbot Hall’s grounds throughout Saturday for the Pride Village from 12.30pm, with the main stage being hosted by drag queen Viola from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
There’ll also be the hugely popular Proud Pooches Dog Show at the Pride Village in the afternoon in partnership with Animal Rescue Cumbria.
The annual Big Pride Party will also return to The Venue at Bowness Bay Brewery on Saturday evening, with performances from drag queen Aura Gasm, drag king Adam All and vogue dancer Eric Scurato.
On Sunday, there will be a host of acoustic performances and a more chilled out vibe in the grounds of Abbot Hall to round off the weekend.
There’ll also be a special feast, with free pies provided by Kendal Pride sponsor Westmorland Farm Shop on the Sunday, with people advised to book in advance.
Inside Abbot Hall, two new queer artist commissions by northern artists Mathew Wayne Parkin and Miles Dyson will be on show from this week until the end of June.
Their work includes drawing, painting, moving image and sculptural installation, and reflects a range of lived experience.
Will Cooper, senior curator at Lakeland Arts, said: “Since Abbot Hall opened in the 1960s, a progressive spirit has been part of our DNA, championed by trailblazing early directors Helen Kapp and Mary Burkett.
“While our collection, like so many, features historic portraiture of the British landed gentry, a true home constantly evolves. In this spirit, we actively champion broader narratives – from exploring female empowerment in The Great Portrait to sharing Kurt Schwitters’ poignant portrait of a fellow World War Two internee.
“Collaborating with Kendal Pride continues this legacy of offering a home to new voices.
“Welcoming the Pride Village to our grounds, alongside bold new commissions by Mathew Wayne Parkin and Miles Dyson inside the gallery, is an absolute thrill.
“This year’s theme, ‘this is home,’ captures our ultimate ambition: for Abbot Hall to be a dynamic, living space where everyone feels seen, celebrated, and completely at home.”
Elsewhere across the weekend there are more than 25 free activities including walks, runs, cycles, yoga, meditation, drum and dance workshops, an open water swim, and much more besides.
And in the run up to the festival Brewery Arts will show a range of LGBTQIA+ feature films alongside short films as part of its Cinema Rewind programme.
Sally Lofthouse-Jones, chair of Kendal Pride, said: “We believe this year’s programme reflects the broad range of interests in the queer community, and gives people a chance to make new connections and celebrate together.
“We’re incredibly grateful to all of our partners and activities organisers – many of whom are volunteers – for coming together to put on a joyful weekend for everyone.
“We can’t wait to see everyone having a fabulous time together and showing that this is home.”
Grants from Kendal Town Council, the National Lottery Awards for All, and sponsorship from TryBooking, Westmorland Farmshop, Herdy, Douglass Grange accountants, Romney’s Kendal Mint Cake and Comida, have all helped to make the programme possible.
For more information about Kendal Pride, the artist commissions, to sign up as a volunteer, visit www.kendalpride.co.uk
—
