Pride in the Park York is go!!!

Sunday the 19^th August put the date in your diary

This year's picnic will start at 1pm in Rowntree Park and what a day we have planned.  The ever popular dog show will be making a return this time with bigger and better categories and prizes, bring your pampered pooches.  The lovely lads from the Yorkshire terriers will be bringing a little muscle and inviting us to join them in a kick about.  At the other end of the field the York Rotters will be available for all your wormery and composting needs!!! And if that doesn't fulfil all your needs in a pride picnic (how could it not?) then you can mosey on over to the entertainment stage where local artists Chris Dye and Jess Gardham will be performing among a bevy of other talents. 

Before making your way to the after party at the Little John pub you might want to pick up a few bargains or chocolate treats from our commercial stalls. 

From 6.00ish food will be provided in a friendly atmosphere at the Little John; York's new gay venue.  For a mere £2.00 you will be able to carry on celebrating into the night. 

The day looks set to be a fantastic opportunity for the LGBT communities of York and beyond to get together and have fun.  So bring your friends, family, dogs, a bottle and a picnic and join us.  If you have nay queries about the event including accessibility please contact Ellen Hill; 01904 620 400 or e.hill@mesmac.co.uk. 

More details have been confirmed about this years Pride in the Park York and we are so excited to let you know.  

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The entertainment will kick off at 1.00pm at rowntrees park and round up at about 6.00pm on Sunday 19^th August at the millennium bridge end of the park.   There will be entertainment in the amphitheatre area, community and commercial stalls on the open grass leaving plenty of space for picnic-ers.  On the entertainment stage you can expect a variety of acts including a fashion show, djs and bands. The community stalls will include organisations such as the fire service and the TUC.  The Yorkshire Terriers will be holding a kick about and Yorkshire MESMAC will be putting on a dog show!  Commercial stalls from Chocolatiers to Artists have also taken an interest in the event.  So watch this space as you might be able to pick up a bargain on the day as well as relaxing with a picnic and bottle. 

We are also really excited to have the support of the newly 'straight friendly' venue in York.  The Little John on Castlegate will be holding an evening's entertainment to follow the Pride.  Food will be provided and tickets are available at the bargain price of £2.00 redeemable on your first drink! 

News Flash York Pride Date announced

 Put it in your diary, this years pride in the park York will be held Sunday 19^th August hopefully in Rowntree's park again.  Preliminary plans suggest a day with more activities and events to build on the success of last year.  However to achieve the kind of pride celebration the LGBT communities of York want and deserve we do need help from those communities. And right now we are looking for people with fundraising and event organising skills to join the dedicated pride steering group. 

Earlier this year we asked people to volunteer with ideas, skills etc for this years 'Pride in the Park York', your responses have flooded in. 

We can confirm we will be having a fashion show during the afternoon of Sunday 19^th August.  Designs will be by local fashion designer John.  There will be goody bags on the day and fundraising for the LGBT forum.  Some creative young volunteers have also joined us and helped design a myspace page.  So far the page has a blog, links to other prides in the region and photos from last year's picnic.  www.myspace.com/prideparkyork. Keep checking for new developments and have your say about the plans.  Other volunteers are really interested in getting live bands playing this year.  So If you are an unsigned band or DJ, in the York area, and fancy a captive audience for a half hour slot on a sunny afternoon in August get in touch. 

Febuary Edition Of Shout Magazine

Bigger, Better, Bolder, this year's York pride want's you.

Summer may feel a long way away at the moment but a gallant group are getting together to start the plans for this year's York LGBT Pride celebrations.  Last year, in glorious sunshine, a picnic was held in Rowntree's park.  The picnic was arranged by the newly formed York and districts LGBT forum with help from Yorkshire MESMAC and the TUC.  Various stalls were present including a book stall and a jewellery stall brought along by members of the LGBT communities, activities included a dog show and badminton matches.  The day went really well and brought a fantastic crowd out to join in the fun especially since the last pride celebrations in York had been had nearly a decade before.  Toffs even kindly allowed free entry to the Sunday gay night to those who had attended the picnic and wanted to carry the celebrations on into the night.   

So this year the pride steering group want to build on the success of last year and hope for a day just as sunny!  We are coming to you to ask for help, support and ideas.  Maybe you are a juggler, or you are good at fund raising, you are damn good at staffing stalls or you attended last year and have ideas about how we could make it bigger and better this year.  Whatever your interest or skills we want to hear from you.  We would love to get input from all sections of the LGBT communities of York and districts to create a pride that appeals to all.