Pride in Trafford returns for a seventh year - festival highlights
Pride in Trafford returns for 2025 with a vibrant celebration of queer arts, creativity and community across the borough
Trafford proudly unveils the programme for its seventh annual Pride in Trafford festival — an inspiring exploration of LGBTQ+ life, creativity, and community. This year, the celebration will expand beyond Sale for the first time, with events set to take place down the road in Altrincham too.
From powerful performances and artistic showcases to moments of reflection and fun-filled gatherings, Pride in Trafford offers a dynamic space where everyone can come together to celebrate love, identity and diversity.
What to expect from the 2025 festival:
The official festival launch for Pride in Trafford on Waterside Plaza on Tuesday 13 May, will again mark The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia*. The Pride flag will be raised, alongside local school children who will perform songs to unify and celebrate diversity.
Pride in Trafford will once again join with local groups Gorse Hill Studios and Rainbow Reflections to present a fun and free special creative, hands-on Pride evening for young people in Trafford on Wednesday 14 May.
Hunter King
A Northern Tr*nny Hootenanny, a Waterside Arts & Creative Industries Trafford commission presented by Hunter King runs throughout the festival. Join Hunter in his gender journey of self-discovery and explore themes of dysphoria, joy and discovering your authentic self.
The Wheel of Nouns
Audience interaction and cabaret-style games in The Wheel of Nouns on Wednesday 14 May create a light-hearted, accepting environment to explore key issues around queerness and gender. Expect thought-provoking cabaret exploring the questions of ‘What is gender anyway?’ and ‘Why should I care?’
The Queer Creatives Assembly on Thursday 15 May, will be welcoming artists, writers, theatre-makers, designers or anyone with a passion for creativity to an informal gathering for conversations and meaningful connections.
Pride in Trafford’s outstanding theatre programme continues with Buff on Thursday 15 May. The producers of Bi-Topia & Gypsy Queen present this solo-performed play; one gay man’s journey to self-acceptance, whilst navigating the toxic universal world of online dating.
Step into the surreal world of Jay Farley, a neurodiverse filmmaker and poet, as they unravel the intersections of gender, class and identity through a raw and cinematic lens.
Holly Redford-Jones
On Friday 16 and Saturday 17 May, Holly Redford-Jones, musician turned stand-up comedian, presents I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar. Set in an imaginary Lesbian Bar, this bold new show is a sonic love letter to sapphic institutions of a bygone era and a celebration of queer women of the past, present and future.
Back by popular demand, Pride in Trafford will once again present its Block Party featuring Big Fatt Dance Party – an exciting afternoon of free outdoor activities on and around Waterside Plaza, featuring specially curated activities for children and their families. This will be followed by live performances on The Bandstand – new for 2025!
The Block Party (2024)
Block Party will take place on Saturday 17 May and will also feature Mini Pride presented by Curious Arts, The Cequin Circus and The Awesome News Crew. The Village Square will be where people will have a chance to connect with an find out more from community groups, charities and organisations who are working with and supporting LGBTQ+ communities in and around Trafford.
The afternoon activities will be followed by a fabulous programme of LGBTQ+ music and spoken word artists performing live on The Bandstand.
The Cequin Circus
Producer for Pride in Trafford and manager of Waterside, Darren Adams comments: “Pride in Trafford is proudly committed to championing LGBTQ+ arts as a powerful vehicle for expression, representation, and social change.
"We are honoured to provide a platform for artists and creatives to share their lived experiences and stories, fostering an inclusive community that welcomes everybody. The 2025 festival is an exciting time as we grow and develop our offer.”
Pride in Trafford 2025 runs from Tuesday 13 May until Sunday 18 May.
Tickets are now on sale, visit prideintrafford.org.
* The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia takes place annually on 17 May.
