The countdown is on and excitement building to Ilkley Pride 2024 at the end of June.
Last year’s Ilkley Pride event, only the 2nd in the town’s history, exceeded all expectations with crowds flocking from across Yorkshire and the UK and attendance even bigger than the first year.
Local businesses, organisations and dignitaries met in January for the Ilkley Pride 2024 launch event at the Clarke Foley community centre and since then the team of volunteers behind the event have been working hard to make 2024 even bigger and better than previous years.
Since the launch event Ilkley Pride & Diversity Group announced Alan Bennett, the famous Yorkshire playwright, as the groups first patron. Sending his best wishes Alan said: "Nothing beats hearing laughter at a live performance and finding time now and then to visit Bettys Café for tea and cakes.’
“What I would hope for from LGBT is that one day sexuality will be taken for granted and be no more consequence or interest than the colour of one’s eyes”.
Ilkley Pride & Diversity Group have also formed a partnership with the Lister Arms, a Wetherspoon pub, to run a monthly cake & coffee social on the first Sunday of each month.
On Friday June 14 there will be a fundraiser and social at The Station Pub in Ilkley from 7pm.
This year’s Ilkley Pride event is Saturday June 29th at Ilkley’s King’s Hall and Winter Garden and will involve a full day of entertainment including a packed line-up of artists in the King’s Hall as well as refreshments, stalls, crafts, workshops and more in the Winter Garden. In the evening the Winter Garden will transition to become the backdrop for ‘Pride Unplugged’, an entertainment line-up featuring a more sophisticated and laidback offering compared to a traditional Pride event.
Tom Harris, spokesperson for Ilkley Pride & Diversity Group, said “By celebrating Ilkley Pride and supporting Ilkley Pride & Diversity Group, the town and its residents have come together to proclaim that every person, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, deserves to live free from discrimination and prejudice. Ilkley’s annual pride celebration stands as a beacon of hope, inspiring others to follow suit and promote inclusivity and equality in their communities.”
David Shaw MBE, Chair of Ilkley Pride & Diversity Group added: “We will be hosting a special reception for our sponsors and supporters without who we could not hold our annual Pride day nor continue with our projects, and so we are most indebted to them. Please do support them if you can.”
Ilkley Pride is supported by many local businesses and organisations and in the build up to 29th June many of them will be chatting to Rombalds Radio about why they are supporting Pride and its importance. After 10am next week, 10-14th June, mid-morning presenter Alex Cann will be speaking to Nigel Eaton from Moss & Moor, Jo Sproston from Joze School Of Dance (pictured above), John Dugdale from the charity Mesmac, Anne Hawksworth from Wicked Lady Promotions and Peter Mitchell from 1 Tivoli Place Guest House.
Tickets for Ilkley Pride 2024 are available online from www.ilkleypride.co.uk or can be purchased at The Grove Bookshop or Ilkley Tesco.
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