Thousands pack Carlisle to celebrate Cumbria Pride 2023

The cultural event sees people come together to celebrate the diversity and to raise awareness of the issues that still face the LGBTQ+ community in Cumbria and further afield.

The head of the parade (Image: Daniel Dockeray)The event was founded back in 2009 with the aim of showing that Pride is not just something for the larger urban cities like Manchester and London, but also for rural areas and the small towns too.

Since its humble origins in 2009 with only 50 people in attendance, the event has grown and grown and is now a firm fixture in Carlisle’s cultural calendar.

This year’s Cumbria Pride began with a march from the city centre at 11am on Saturday, September 23 to the Caldew Riverside car park where the rest of the day’s events were being held.

The march came down Victoria Viaduct (Image: Daniel Dockeray)At the car park, there were representatives from Cumbria Police, Cumbria Fire and Rescue, the NHS and Cumbria Pride talking to Pride attendees about the issues facing the LGBT+ community today.

There was also a stage set up in the car park and the artists which performed at pride include Ailsa McFee, Allan Jay, George Shelley, Joanna Bang, Kara Marni, Kyle Finn, Michael T Ogilvie, Miss Pearl, PJ Taylor, and Tom Stevens.

Following the main event, there was an after party hosted at Walkabout on Botchergate which was hosted by Joanna Bang.

Attendees enjoying the acts at the main stage (Image: Daniel Dockeray)In a post on social media, the organisers of Cumbria Pride said: “What a Pride! Kicking off with our celebration march, thank you so much to everyone who joined us.”

READ MORE: Carlisle to welcome new events venue in late October

Cumbria Pride was sponsored by Cumberland Council, Westmorland and Furness Council, Sellafield, Carlisle United, Carlisle Community Help, North Cumbria Integrated Care and the University of Cumbria.