5 Things To Do In Leeds To Add More Life To Your Pride Celebrations

Summer downpours can only mean one thing – plenty of rainbows. Pride is hitting the streets of Leeds on 6th August, and with it comes a host of fresh activities to breathe some passion into your celebrations. Bringing colour, excitement and fierce energy, read on to find our top picks of the local activities bringing Pride to the city in full force. 

But first, let’s take a minute to remind ourselves of why Pride is so important.

On June 28, 1970, the first Pride parades were held in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. These parades saw thousands of Americans take to the streets to declare their full support for the LGBT community, which was notoriously rivalled against by mainstream politics. The first parade took place exactly one year following the history-changing Stonewall Uprising, which saw five days of revolt from the LGBTQIA+ community against police brutality towards minorities. 

Since then, the parade has been a proud staple of LGBTQIA+ life, marking a sense of togetherness within a once estranged community. Every year, millions around the world take to the streets in bright colours in support of queer culture, continually demonstrating how far the community has come, whilst also reiterating how far we have left to go. 

With this in mind, let’s visit the local activations occurring throughout the city to get the 2023 Pride Celebrations in full swing!

Chow Down – Drag Brunch 

The last ever weekend of Chow Down as we know will include a special Pride celebration, CAMP’s Queens and Kings will delight you with a host of jaw-dropping performances whilst you tuck into some tasty treats and fabulous cocktails. Hosted by Sue Pertrouper, you can expect to be dazzled by incredible lip-syncing, stunning outfits and electrifying dancing. 

Drag Queens aside, Chow Down also delivers a delectable palate of food and drink choices this summer, combining fantastic flavours with local talent. You can tuck into tasty tacos, fried chicken burgers or halloumi flatbreads, all whilst washing it down with a refreshing aperol spritz, a pint of Northern Monk or a frozen pina colada. 

With tickets selling quickly, this is a party you absolutely do not want to miss. Please note, this is an 18+ event.For more information and tickets, please follow the link HERE.

Leeds Rainbow Street Crossing 

With all the walking that comes with Pride festivals, why not do so in style with the newly installed rainbow crossing in the centre of the city. Situated on Vicar Lane by the Victoria Quarter, you can expect a vibrant walkway awaiting you as you walk alongside the infamous Pride floats. 

Returning for its sixth year in the City, fans of the festival will be delighted to stride with Pride along the crossing, which has previously seen hundreds take to social media to document it. The instagrammable spot showcases the bright reds, oranges and yellows all needed to add a splash of colour to a day of celebrations. Plus, if you know Leeds as well as we do, we doubt the rainbow themed touches will end there, with the street previously boasting a whole range of wonderful decorations in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Harvey Nichols Pride Cocktail

If we’re lucky, Pride goers this August will be basking in some well deserved Summer heat. But parading through the streets of Leeds in 30 degree weather can leave a girl thirsty, so where better to head for a refreshing beverage than the iconic Harvey Nichols? 

The Briggate branch of the department store giant is a long time favourite for tourists and locals alike, all of whom love to pop in for a glass of fizz on the fourth floor bar. But what is the joy in a plain glass of fizz during Pride celebrations? This year, Harvey Nichols is proud to announce a range of Pride themed cocktails, all of which add a mix of tantalising taste of summer to each glass. The menu reveals iconic cocktails ‘Crystal Queen’, ‘Dragstar Martini’ and ‘Tropic Like it’s Hot’, all of which suit the spirit of Pride delightfully. 

What’s more, those of you keen to start your Pride celebrations early can pop in three days ahead of the festival to enjoy a Masterclass in making these fabulous drinks. At £35 a ticket, you’ll be invited to have a go at making (and tasting) these three thirst-quenching cocktails, and can even tuck into a complementary rainbow shot upon arrival. 

If you want to release your inner bartender, follow the link HERE

Hirst Yard’s Pride Parties

For those of you looking for a boogie this Pride, two of Leeds most iconic bars, Ten Bar and The End, have collaborated for a Pride party like no other. The event takes place on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th August, and invites Pride spirited DJ lovers to go and dance to their favourite songs all day and all night. 

With entirely free admission, you can expect live music to take place from 1pm, coming from both Ten Bar and The End, as well as Hirst Yard’s open-air dance arena. Artists providing the soundtrack for this Pride are DJ’s Dale Castell, Marc Leaf, Alice Bailey, Dave Robinson, Ben Bottomley, Lisa Jane, DJ Cajo, Simon Goulding, DJ Jamezy, Jack Diamond and OW. With music running until ‘very late’, you can dance and drink to your heart’s content. 

For tickets, please head to the website HERE.

Visit the Victoria Quarter

Nestled in the depths of Pride Celebrations is the Victoria Quarter, a hot spot merging the biggest brand names with independent boutiques. Despite its glamorous decor and Victorian style shopping arcades, the shopping hub isn’t just a pretty face. During the Pride celebrations on 6th August, you can expect to have a serving of fine food, great music and fantastic entertainment. 

Throughout the day, the Quarter will be alive with the buzz of music from performing DJ’s, along with live entertainment. For those wanting to face Pride head on and be a part of the music, you can head over to the Harvey Nichols stand, which will be handing out glitter and Pride themed fans. Fabulous! Iconic Japanese restaurant Issho will also be delivering tasty tasters throughout the day, because who doesn’t need a mid-celebration snack?

– – – –

Well, there you have it – our top 5 picks of things to add a bit extra to your Pride celebrations. But the list, of course, doesn’t stop there, with brands and communities across the city expected to give it their all this August. You can expect to see a breadth of clubs, pubs, restaurants and shops all in high spirits on 6th August, ready to deliver the Pride party everybody deserves to be a part of. We hope to see you there!