The Queen even made an appearance at Preston Pride

Crowds were out in force on Saturday to celebrate Preston Pride on the Flag Market in the late September sunshine.

The front of the Harris Museum looked resplendent with its temporary array of rainbow coloured flags. The event kicked off at midday with a set from Preston’s One Voice Community Choir, contenders for this year’s BBC Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year.

Opening speeches by the event’s organisers were followed by guest speaker Sylvia Lancaster from the Sophie Lancaster Foundation who had a serious point to make about tolerance of others and the importance of diversity. The afternoon’s entertainment continued with musical duo Retrospective, Preston Musical Comedy Society, the hilarious drag act Bears Alive and headliner Tameka Jackson, amongst others.

One Voice Community choir at the Pride

Onlookers were amazed when ‘The Queen’ made an appearance complete with crown and dressed in full royal regalia, only to be upstaged by Musical Ruth speeding through the crowd with ‘her’ motorised grand piano! Many community groups and organisations were also present dishing out goodies and advice and kids were entertained by having their faces painted and decorating their own face masks.

The afternoon had a great atmosphere and the fun continued into the night with the official Pride after party at Rumes nightclub on Church Street. This is only the second year that the Preston Pride event has been held, and if yesterday is anything to go by, the event looks set to become a popular annual addition to the Preston calendar.

View more photos from Bernie at the Pride event on Flickr

Did you go along to the Pride? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below