Pride on the Harbourside: Thousands celebrate at Whitehaven event

The second Pride on the Harbourside kicked off on Saturday with a colours parade, which was bursting with colour, happiness and eye-catching outfits.

A huge Pride flag was paraded along Whitehaven Harbour during the event (Image: Newsquest)

There were dozens of stallholders with a variety of goods, activities and information on offer, and the event culminated with a harbourside concert headlined by DJ Sash and nineties boyband, 911.

It followed the Colours Harbourside Festival on Friday night, headlined by noughties boyband Blue and nineties dance act, Whigfield, which was attended by hundreds of people, despite heavy rainfall.

Spectators enjoy the free harbourside concert (Image: Max Ellis)

The events were held as part of a three-day celebration organised by Proud and Diverse Cumbria, which kicked off with the opening of Colours Whitehaven, an inclusion hub and café based at King Street, on Thursday.

Glenn Anderson, director of Proud and Diverse Cumbria, said: “I was thrilled. Obviously, we can’t control the rain. We were disappointed the rain was so hard on Friday night.

'The Queen' does a quick lipstick touch-up (Image: Max Ellis)

“The Saturday was glorious. It was like the whole harbour was just full of people. I haven’t seen that many people dressed in colourful outfits and waving flags at anything like that on the harbour, ever. When I compare it with last year, it blew it out of the water.

“My organisation’s aim is to create visibility. Nobody can change the world but we are there to highlight there are LGBTQ+ people who are part of the community and other minorities, as well.

(Image: Max Ellis)

“It’s nice to celebrate. People had gone out of their way to show their support for what we were trying to do and that was humbling to me.

“We’re already being asked what’s happening next year.”

The team from Sellafield who attended Pride at the Harbourside (Image: Facebook)

Mr Anderson thanked the Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners for their constant support of outdoor events, along with Cumberland Council, Cumbria Police and the local search and rescue team for providing a boat in the harbour all weekend.

Josh MacAlister, Whitehaven and Workington MP, added: “It was another fantastic event which highlighted and celebrated the wonderful diversity of West Cumbria. My congratulations go to the organisers, volunteers, sponsors and everyone who attended. I’m looking forward to next year!”