UK's most easterly Pride event - Lowestoft Pride - set to return next year
It's after the success of the 2023 event
Last updated 24th Aug 2023
The UK's most easterly Pride event - in Lowestoft - is set to make a return for 2024.
Councillors in the town have committed to a new Pride event to take place next year following this year’s success.
This year’s inaugural Pride event took place earlier this month and saw hundreds turnout – despite the rain.
Cllr Sonia Barker, the town’s mayor, opened the event on August 5 by recognising the importance of celebrating everyone in the community.
After the event, many were hopeful the council would make it into an annual event.
Yesterday, during this month’s full council meeting, councillors unanimously approved a proposal to hold it again next year, although no decision has yet been made for the years after.
Cllr Barker said: “We received lots of positive comments for our event this year, despite the weather conditions, and the overwhelming feedback from the public was to build on this success for next year.
“As the town council, we are always looking to champion our wonderfully diverse community in Lowestoft and holding an annual Pride event is a major part of that.”
Although no date has been confirmed as of yet, it is likely to take place during the first week of August.
Cllr Andy Pearce also brought up the importance of the Pride event to become a yearly occurrence.
He said: “It’s important for the town, and it’s important against the backdrop of what’s happened in Nashville — it’s a statement.”
The meeting also approved the referral for the town’s budget and loans sub-committee to factor in a major event budget of £10,000.
This could mean an increase in scale from this year’s event which already saw the festivities spread across two different locations.