As organisers and revellers continue to dry out from last year’s rain soaked event, the dates for Newcastle Pride 2018 have been announced.
Rain lashed down at the Town Moor on thefinal day of the event in July as X Factor winner Sam Bailey brought Pride to a close but the weather did little to dampen spirits during a fun filled weekend that also saw main stage performances from the likes of A1, Stooshe, Kelly Llorenna and Angie Brown and a colourful city centre parade that attracted a record breaking 16,000 marchers.
Next year is an especially poignant one for Pride events across the world 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the Rainbow Flag, created by Gilbert Baker.
The rainbow flag was popularised as a symbol of the gay community by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker in 1978. The different colors symbolise diversity in the gay community, and the flag is used predominantly at gay pride events and in gay villages worldwide.
The flag was originally created with eight colours, but pink and turquoise were removed for production purposes, and since 1979 it has consisted of six coloured stripes. Aside from the obvious symbolism of a mixed LGBT community, the colours were determined to symbolize: life (red), healing (orange), sunlight (yellow), nature (green), harmony/peace (blue), and spirit (purple/violet).
Posting on Facebook about next year’s Newcastle Pride, organisers wrote ‘We will use Newcastle Pride to help celebrate this milestone, the meaning behind the rainbow and the symbol it has become for our community, and as a symbol for love.’
But when is it?
When is Newcastle Pride 2018?
Just like last year’s Newcastle Pride 2018 will run over three consecutive days from July 20 - 22.