DIVERSITY and equality were celebrated at Cumbria Pride's 15th-anniversary event in Carlisle. 

The event, which took place at the Caldew Riverside Car Park on Saturday, marked Cumbria Pride's 15th year in the city after initially starting its annual event in 2009.

At the event, people from across Carlisle and Cumbria celebrated their differences and promoted inclusivity whilst being entertained by a variety of singers and entertainers such as Dee Licious, Sh-Boom, Kyle Finn, and X Factor's Matt Terry. 

(Image: Matthew O'Hara/NQ) This was followed by a number of after-parties across Carlisle and at Carlisle Youth Zone.

However, this year the event's popular march through Carlisle did not take place due to work in the city centre which did not allow the group to select an inclusive route.

Martin Reeves is a trustee for Cumbria Pride and was in attendance at the 15th Pride event in the city and expressed his delight at how it has grown since its creation and the turnout to this year's event. 

He said: "We are delighted to keep going all this time.

"We have managed to keep going and as I always say, we are the original Cumbria Pride but it is also very good that Cumbria now has so many pride events and festivals.

"Pride means a lot to so many people of all different ages and we have got wonderful entertainment here, we have been so lucky with all our singers and entertainers.

(Image: Matthew O'Hara/NQ) "However, it is not just about the entertainment. We are here today to celebrate diversity and equality, and we have got a host of business, health, charity, and wellbeing stalls and there is so much to do.

"We were not able to do the march this year primarily due to all the work in Carlisle city centre which did not make it viable but people are enjoying it just the same."

For Martin, Cumbria Pride is a special event and hold a great significance especially at a time where there are still 'divisions' present in society.

He said: "For me, Pride is about celebrating everybody for who they are and it is so good to see everyone enjoying themselves whoever they are, whatever they are.

"In today's world with everything that is going on, even locally, there is still divisions between different groups which is so sad.

(Image: Matthew O'Hara/NQ) "We have come so far but I think sometimes it is two steps forward and one step back but to see people enjoying themselves makes it for me."

The event was also supported by a number of local and national businesses, charities and organisations such as Cumbria Fire and Rescue, Eden Valley Hospice, The National Trust, and Family Action amongst other.