Pride Village Party
St James's Street and Madeira Drive, Brighton, Friday, July 31, to Sunday, August 2
PERHAPS inevitably as soon as Pride’s Party In The Park became ticketed, the free St James’s Street Party held after the main event suddenly became much more popular.
With police reports that the 2013 event had become “darker and less safe than in previous years” Pride organisers, Brighton and Hove City Council and various parties got together to create a pilot paid for after-party.
As with last year during the 2015 Pride Village Party, which starts on Saturday, August 1, streets will be closed to traffic over the two days, with the wristband area stretching along Marine Parade and St James Street from the main entrance by Steine Street to Rock Place. There will also be a wristband area in Princes Street around The Marlborough Pub and Theatre.
As well as the chance to hang out at the city’s best gay and lesbian bars and clubs, New Steine Gardens is hosting a Pride Village Fayre, featuring a vintage Tipple Temple, food village and entertainment, including a Sunday family day where under 12s are free.
At sunset on Sunday the gardens will also hold a candlelit vigil to remember friends and loved ones under the shadow of the AIDS memorial.
Pride Village Party weekend passes cost £10, or £5 for just the Sunday. With capacity for this year’s event being restricted street partygoers are being encouraged to buy their tickets early to avoid disappointment.
Each ticket sold includes a £1 donation to the Rainbow Fund.
Local residents will be able to pick up a £5 weekend wristband exclusively through local venues.
"As a not for profit organisation Pride are unable to underwrite the anticipated increase in costs to operate the Pride Village Party,” says Pride director Paul Kemp.
“Increasing the ticket prices is the only way to ensure the costs of producing a safe and sustainable Pride Village Party for the future and to meet our community fundraising objectives.
“We are committed to our ongoing fundraising for the Rainbow Fund who make grants to local organisations providing front line services to the LGBT Community in Brighton and Hove.
“With the help of local venues and city wide businesses who benefit from the Pride weekend Pride are also committed to additional fundraising contributions to a new Social Impact Fund, a new community fund that we hope will benefit local projects."
Volunteers offering at least two hours of their own time will be able to apply for a free pass to the village party.
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