Greater Manchester residents on low-incomes can purchase discounted tickets to this year’s Manchester Pride Festival, thanks to a new ticket scheme.
Anyone earning £16,000 or less per year or receiving specific benefits is eligible to apply.
The ticket scheme will mean a weekend rainbow pass, which allows access to the Gay Village Party and the Manchester Pride Live events over all four days, will cost £39.75 + booking fees, compared to £69.75 + booking fees for a full price ticket.
A day ticket for the Gay Village Party alone will be £7.50 + booking fees, rather than £15 + booking fees.
Manchester Pride Festival is an annual celebration of LGBTQ+ life and will take place over the four days of August Bank Holiday weekend, 27-30 August.
In 2019, Manchester Pride, the charity which organises the yearly festival, came under fire for more than doubling ticket prices.
Tickets were hiked from £22-28 in 2018 to £64.50 in 2019 for a weekend ticket, not including booking fees.
Many claimed the new prices were not in the spirit of inclusivity of the events, as they priced out customers.
Now, as so many people have faced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this scheme may be a welcome relief to those who otherwise could not afford to attend.
Manchester Pride CEO Mark Fletcher said: “A huge thanks goes out to those who purchase tickets to attend our events, because of you, we can continue to support and empower LGBTQ+ people all year round.”
Tickets are allocated on a first-come first-served basis and will be available until 30 June or until they sell out.
To find out more and apply visit: https://www.manchesterpride.com/tickets
