Sign up to our newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Sign up here! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

More details about Cambridge’s first Pride event have been released, ahead of the celebration next Saturday (June 8).

The event has made headlines for being the first in the UK to feature a river parade, and now we can reveal the eight punts that will be leading the charge down the River Cam.

These will represent eight different Cambridge LGBT+ community groups and their allies: The Kite Trust, Encompass Network, Dhiverse, Diamonds, the QTI POC Festival, Cambridge University Student Union LGBTQ group and the LGBT+ Staff Networks Group (NHS, Police, Fire Service and others).

The groups have been spending the past month making colourful costumes for the punts, with The Kite Trust putting together a phoenix costume to represent the first colour of the rainbow.

(Image: David Johnson)

Jack Wilkin, project worker at The Kite Trust, said: “The idea for the phoenix costume comes from the colour of our punt, which is red, representing life-force. It’s also the first colour of the rainbow.

"The young people who are involved in this community art project chose the phoenix as a symbol of rising up out of the ashes to represent their strength and resilience."

Jack, who will also be running the festival’s youth tent, said there will even be a brand new Queer British Bake Off.

He added: “The Youth Tent at Pride will be bursting with activity. We have a DJ workshop, an open mic session, a carnival workshop and the first-ever Queer British Bake Off, which we’re all really excited about.”

The first Pride event in Cambridge is timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and the start of the LGBT Liberation Movement.

(Image: The Pink Festival Group)

Lara Jaffey, The Kite Trust’s executive director, said: “Our message is, come and join in the celebrations at Cambridge’s first Pride, but don’t forget why we are all here.

"Fifty years ago, the LGBT+ movement began and there is still a lot of work to be done before everyone feels equal and accepted, whatever their sexuality or gender identity.”

The River Parade will start at 11am on Saturday, June 8, beginning at Jesus Green and ending at Magdalene Bridge.

Pride tents will open at noon on Jesus Green, with Craig Maddox, Colonel Spank’s Love Ensemble, Mr Fabulous and Keltrix on the main stage, and the comedy tent home to stand-up, drag acts and a lip-sync competition.