Line-up of city’s grand
IT’S time to get your glad rags on as one of Swansea’s most beloved festivals returns next week: Swansea Pride, with events from May 13 to 19.
Shops, salons and bars across the city will be decorated with flags and bright colours throughout the week, whilst hundreds of people are set to wear rainbow-coloured outfits and accessories as they walk along city centre streets as part of the festival’s Pride parade on Saturday, May 18.
Further events this year include a youth club aimed at LGBTQIA+ young people aged 11 to 25, an LGBT+ coffee morning, sports events, karaoke, a rock and roll bingo night, and the launch of a long-awaited new cabaret bar.
As in previous years, the Pride Festival will also be taking place with stalls, live entertainment and activities on set days.
Organisers say there will be three headline acts at this year’s main festival event - but have only announced one so far.
Nikk Mager, former member of the band Phixx and a finalist on Popstars: The Rivals, is set to perform to the crowds at The Guildhall, with two further names to be announced.
Headliners in previous years have included dance music act Cascada (2014), Rupaul Drag Race’s Farrah Moan (2019) and popular American drag queen Lady Bunny (2023).
Swansea Pride has been organised by the Swansea Pride charity which aims to promote equality and diversity “for the public benefit” and to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender.
First launched in 2008, Swansea Pride started life as a social group for the local LGBT+ community who wanted to organise an outdoor event in the city.
Their first event, Pink in the Park, took place in Singleton Park in June 2009 and over time Swansea Pride has grown in numbers - organisers have since registered the group and its annual Pride event as a charity as they wanted to “demonstrate that Swansea Pride is a not-for-profit event run by volunteers for the benefit of the local LGBT community, their friends and families.”
In our guide below, we’ve got everything you need to know about this year’s events:
Monday, May 13
Creative Writing with Queertawe The Grand Theatre (Singleton Street, Swansea city centre), 6pm
Tuesday, May 14
Good Vibes LGBTQIA+ Youth Club (age 11 to 25) - YMCA Swansea (The Kingsway, Swansea city centre), 5.30pm
Training with Swansea Galaxy FC (Swansea’s first LGBTQ+ football club) Elba Leisure Centre, Ffordd Beck, Gowerton, 7pm
RAD Runners (inclusive community running group) Meet-up - Beer Riff, Pilot House Wharf, Swansea Marina, 6.30pm
Wednesday, May 15
LGBT+ Coffee Morning - Coast Coffee (Trawler Road, Swansea Marina), 10.30am
Drag Queen Karaoke - Hogarths Swansea (St Mary Street [off Wind Street], Swansea city centre), 8pm
Thursday, May 16
The Silly Cabaret present ‘It’s Giving Pride’ - Elysium Gallery & Bar (High