Entertainment Swindon

With Pride 2024 in Swindon over for another year, we look back on this years hugely successful event.

Swindon & Wiltshire Pride, now in its 16th year moved this year from its previous venue at Queens Park to GWR Park near the Swindon Army Reserve Centre.

The event started as always with the Pride March through the town, starting at Regent Circus. The urban grey dullness of the top of town started to come alive with colour as participants of the march started to gather followed by cheers, whistles and drums, as the organisers assembled the sea of colour to march on through town with over 1000 participants towards GWR Park where the rest of the days event were to take place.

With chants of ‘Love is Love’ cheers, singing and dancing supported by Swindon’s very own Ministry of Samba band, the march was welcomed by shoppers bringing cheers and smiles as they stopped to watch the procession pass by.

As the procession reached GWR Park, they were greeted by already hundreds of people ready to watch the performances on stage and have fun in one of the warmest days of the year so far.

Kicking off the main event was the Swindon based Spotlight Choir, one of the most inclusive choirs in the UK founded by Maryrose Higgins and Sharon Lloyd which was a wonderful sight to see young people given the chance to build self belief and confidence showing off their choreographed moves and renditions of classics getting the crowd joining in too.

Throughout the day, 10000 people came along to Swindon & Wiltshire Pride. Press Manager Andy Midwinter said, “We are so touched by the reaction we have received, it was heartwarming to see our fans come with us to our new home and fall in love with the venue as much as we have.” Chairperson Paul Stewart added, “Volunteers are the lifeblood of Swindon & Wiltshire Pride”.

Off stage there was a full park of activities from amusement rides and inflatables for the kids, as well as a Circus Zone put on by Fandangos & sponsored by WH Smiths putting on a host of circus skills for everyone to learn. Food was in plenty supply with venders coming from as far as London as well as local businesses like GlamoRose Cakes who brought sparkly to GWR Park with their amazing selection of cupcakes, brownies and rainbow cookie pie!

As well as great food, and fun activities, there was a Health & Support Services area, chill out zone, and youth zone which included the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts. Speaking to Hannah Wilkins, Vice Principle from the Pauline Quirke Academy said “This years event was extremely well organised, our students loved taking part in the parade, which gave them another chance to show a small section of their celebration of Disney.” Hannah went on to say “Moving to the GWR Park was genius! It’s a park that was meant for community gatherings”.

When asked why PQA got involved with Swindon & Wiltshire Pride, Hannah said “We are all about giving young people the opportunity and confidence to be themselves, to be amazing! Pride is about many things, but for us it’s about acceptance, tolerance and joy in individuality”.

Speaking to Swindon & Wiltshire Pride’s Press Manager Andy Midwinter, he said “We have been touched by reaction to our 2024 event, if you look up GWR Park in the history books, you will find a proud entry about the annual Children’s Fete in Swindon’s past which started on the second Saturday in August 1866, the town’s oldest summer event attracted large crowds and meant the children, including those from the workhouse, could enjoy a day of rides and entertainment.”
Mr Midwinter went on to say “While the Second World War put an end to the famous event, it’s revival in various forms by the local community in recent years reveals the ambition remains: for this historic park to remain a vital part of the community. Turning the clocks forward to 2024 and the relocation of Swindon & Wiltshire Pride – the celebration of diversity and love – to this important green space meant the second Saturday of August was again filled with a sea of colour and noise.

Back on Stage amongst the acts were an amazing lineup of performers entertaining everyone throughout the day from local talent including Athena Aperta, singer songwriter, musician and mentor who also runs workshops in sound therapy and music meditation, Drag act sensations Victoria Scone & LoUis CYfer who for us was one of the highlights of the entire day with a mixture of comedy and song that gave us stitches from so much laughing!

To Finish the main event at GWR Park was the Cheeky Girls who burst on to our TV screens in 2002 on X Factor and 22years later they are still as infectiously hyper and cheeky finishing with headline act, the Liverpool icon and Eurovision Royalty Sonia who put on an awesome trip down memory lane including her 1993 Eurovision song ‘Better the Devil You Know’.

As the main event in GWR Park came to a close the organisers of Swindon & Wiltshire Pride gave heart warmed thanks to the fan who came out in their thousands to support the event and all the volunteers and sponsors.

Chairperson Paul Stewart added, “Volunteers are the lifeblood of Swindon & Wiltshire Pride. We are incredibly grateful to every volunteer for their valuable contribution. The committee is made up of volunteers, and together with the volunteers that joined us over the weekend, you’ve helped create a vibrant, inclusive event where everyone can be themselves.”
“We’d also like to thank our main sponsor, Nationwide Building Society, Pride Partners and Supporters, and South Swindon Parish Council for their continued support.”

Pride couldnt just finish in the park, there had to be an After Party! And what better place to host this than Battle Boom Bar, with more entertainment from Dixie Normous, DJ Nemz and The Beyonce Experience, famed for performing on Britain’s Got Talent which gave the Pride After Partygoers an amazing choreographed energetic Beyonce experience, bringing Swindon & Wiltshire Pride 2024 to a close.