Participants took part in a colourful celebration march through Hamilton town centre
Hamilton staged a colourful celebration as thousands of visitors arrived in the town centre for the annual Lanarkshire Pride festival.
A host of entertainers took to the stage on Quarry Street for a busy day of festivities and hundreds of groups took part in the centrepiece march around the town centre.
Organisers called it “a fantastic celebration of community, visibility and belonging” and said of the day: “We estimate that around 10,000 people passed through, making it one of the largest free-to-attend events in the town centre.”
Now in its fourth year, Lanarkshire Pride saw visitors enjoy stalls, attractions and an entertainment programme featuring a host of singers and tribute acts, headlined by RuPaul’s Drag Race star Cheryl The Queen.
The focal point of the day was the parade through the town centre, with organisations and individuals joining forces for the Pride march along Cadzow Street and Almada Street before returning back to the Quarry Street main stage.
It concluded with speeches from members of the local Pride Connect group and the headline performance; and event organisers Lanarkshire Pride CIC thanked all those who took part, praising the “fantastic turnout” and the contribution of participants, performers, sponsors and volunteers.
A spokesperson for Lanarkshire Pride told the Hamilton Advertiser: “Seeing so many people come together in Hamilton was a powerful reminder of why Pride continues to matter.
“Inequality and intolerance still exist, but so do community, solidarity and determination. Pride is about bringing people together, celebrating who we are and showing that everyone deserves to feel safe, supported and valued in their community.
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who came along and helped make the day such a positive celebration of Lanarkshire’s LGBTQ+ community.”
The organisation also runs a busy calendar of activities including its weekly Pride Connect groups for young people and adults.
Its sessions in the Regent Centre resume this week, with the youth group for 16- to 24-year-olds meeting on Saturday, August 15 from 12.30-3.30pm; with the adult group for those aged 25 and over meeting on Monday, August 17, from 10.30am-12.30pm.
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