Parade March

Saturday 13 July | Gather from 10am | Departs 1045am

An incredible 12,000 of you joined us last year for a bold statement for equality and diversity, to celebrate our community and to show that hatred and prejudice has no place in our city, or anywhere.

This year we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the birth of the Pride movement around the world. It’s also our own 10th-anniversary so let’s make this year our biggest ever. Let’s remember where we’ve come from, celebrate where we are and keep fighting for a future of true equality for all.

The parade remains in the city centre with free travel on First Bus and a new free shuttle service from the parade end for everyone with a Pride Supporter wristband to get you up to our new home on The Downs.

Gather in Castle Park and will march through the city centre, With the parade ending in the amphitheatre.

The route is 2 miles long and will take about 1 hour to complete.

The route is step free and we have tried to reduce the number of hills we take (not easy in Bristol) but those with restricted mobility or wheelchair users may struggle with the first loop around Cabot Circus, due to a steep incline, but this can be avoided and you can join us as we pass Castle Park again by Wine Street.

If you have access questions please Contact Us and visit our accessibility page.

We’ve seen tough times for communities at home and overseas and Pride is a chance to remind us the prejudice and hatred have no place in our city or society. We’ve seen horrific incidents take place overseas and backwards steps on hard fought changes in policy overturned. Let’s be a beacon for those many who cannot be out in their countries, to the 77 countries that ban homosexuality and offer lengthy prison sentences, to the 10 countries where homosexuality may be punished by death and to all those where people have been driven to suicide by bullying or entrapment – sadly some of these are EU countries.

As part of our Stonewall50 celebrations we asked KIKI Bristol to not only coordinate a QTIPOC block but to help head up the parade along with Trans Pride SW. We also welcome Stonewall and UK Bi Pride to Pride and we have asked Ken Macharia from the Bristol Bisons to lead parade this year. We hope that he can still join us.

Pride is that chance to come and be yourself among friends or to come and show your support to loved ones, family, friends and the LGBT+ community, join us to showcase and celebrate your community, the L, G, B, T, + everything in-between & beyond. We have a wonderfully diverse community but sometimes it’s difficult for some of our community to have a voice or to be seen, Pride is your time to shine.

Even the Parade costs us money, more and more every year.

So we do ask all businesses, corporate and large organisation wishing to take part in the Parade that hasn’t sponsored or booked a stall at Pride Day to be a Parade Supporter and contribute toward the costs of the parade. This helps keep the Parade happening and ensures that it is still possible for members of the public to join in, for free.

Parade entry is £250. Contact us for a booking form.

Lastly, we ask the organisation not to flyer as this causes large amounts of litter. Why not get stickers made, give away edible treats or reusable gifts.

We have arranged a dedicated quick shuttle service, kindly sponsored by Bristol University. Picking up from the end of the parade and this will run throughout the day to and from The Downs.

First Buses 1,2,3 and 4 also run to The Downs. You can catch the bus from The Cenotaph or from College Green.

What’s more with a Pride Supporter Wristband travel is FREE!

We do expect the buses to be busy so those that feel able and want to enjoy the walk to the festival, or travel by other means are encouraged to do so. Please remember that after the parade has ended you’ll need to stick to the pavements.

Visit our Travel Page for more info

To GMB the Union who’s support helps us to cover the ever increasing costs of the parade including stewards and security costs. The very first Pride marches were supported by the Unions to ensure they happened and we are proud to welcome a number of them at Pride each year. Be sure to have a chat and find out how they are supporting LGBT+ staff and workers and a big thank you GMB!

We also thank those organisation who have booked into the Parade this year to show their support to the community, their staff and clients and to Pride. Again their support helps to cover the costs of the parade and keep it happening but also shows their commitment to equality.