July 8, 2011 2.11 pm This story is over 152 months old

Lincoln prepares for Gay Pride 2011

Pride festival: Lincoln Gay Pride is back! We spoke to the event organiser about what’s in store this year.

This weekend sees the return of Lincoln Gay Pride, but with a change of venue and an improved lineup.

This year the event takes place at The Lawn, where there will be stalls and a Pimms garden.

Visitors are recommended to take advantage of the area and bring a picnic.

On stage there will be the X Factor‘s Rachel Adedeji, alongside local band The 4 Tarantinos and Pink tribute act, Missunderstood.

There are also a number of after-party events this year. The official after-party starts at 8pm at The Drill Hall until 1am, followed by Christopher’s from 2am until 6am.

On the Sunday, Walkabout are hosting a Pride Breakfast where, as Lincoln Pride organiser Laura Wint-McKane says, you can “celebrate the aftermath of pride”.

Wint-McKane says that the change of venue makes a more “friendly environment” as people will have somewhere to sit.

She also explains that this year they have had to be “money savvy” because of the poor economic climate, which saw Lincoln Pride have a fall in sponsors as well as a the amount of money that sponsors donated this year.

A £2 Lincoln Pride appeal was set up earlier in the year but Wint-McKane says it was not as successful as they thought it would be.

This left no option but to charge £2 entry to the event this year, when it used to be free, in order to keep the events running.

Wint-McKane says it is important for Lincoln to have an event like this as gay pride is an “international celebration and Lincoln has a right to do that whether they are gay or straight”.

She added that pride events are now seen as “cool” and that people enjoying attending them regardless of their sexual orientation.

Lincoln Pride begins at 12pm on Saturday at The Lawn and entry will cost £2.

Related posts: Lincolnshire Echo