Milton Keynes Pride Festival has released the full Pride 2024 line-up, supporting and showcasing LGBTQ+ artists and performers, whilst celebrating its 5th anniversary. Here is everything you need to know..
Pride in Milton Keynes returns on Saturday, September 14, and will be celebrating its 5th anniversary! The event starts at 12pm until 10pm and is free entry.
NOTE: You can find the line-up at the end of the article.
Director of MK Pride Festival, Keith Emmett III said, “We are proud to announce the full Pride 2024 line-up for Milton Keynes Pride Festival and are thrilled to support and showcase LGBTQ+ artists and performers as well as our essential LGBTQ+ allies.”
The partner and main sponsors of the event are: MK Community Foundation - the centre:mk - Volkswagen Group United Kingdom - Oracle Red Bull Racing - Rightmove - 12th Street Leisure Quarter - Fourteen Sky Bar & Restaurant - Hotel Latour – NHBC - MK Theatre - Unison Mk Health Branch
The headline sponsor for the event is Santander.
The Rainbow sponsors:
Personal Group
Milton Keynes Development Partnership
West Bletchley Council
Bletchley and Fenny Town Council
MKFM
MK Loft Boarding
The charity partner is Q:alliance
The media partners are: MKFM - MK Pulse Magazine - Business Mk -Plexus Communications
The community supporter is Parks Trust
IMPORTANT INFORMATION - PLEASE NOTE:
Security searches will be carried out at point of entry and no alcohol is to be brought into the festival. Please note the festival operates a strict Challenge 25 policy across all bars and ID is required to buy alcohol.
The festival allows one sealed 500ml bottle of water per festival goer and reusable empty flasks which can be topped up with fresh drinking water via the onsite hydration station. Family picnics are welcome subject to a search.
PRIDE BY DAY:
The afternoon session is family-friendly from 12pm to 6pm. There is a strict dress code policy in place along with filtered language and lyric content during performances from artists and performers, making it suitable for families with children.
PRIDE BY NIGHT:
The evening session welcomes adults only over the age of 18 from 6pm to 10pm. The dress code policy is lifted and adult-orientated entertainment and cabaret from artists, performers and comedians takes place. There are no longer language or lyric content restrictions on performances.
Please note no under 18’s will be permitted onsite after 6pm.
KEEPING SAFE AT PRIDE - REGISTRATION SCHEME:
Please note the child & vulnerable adult registration scheme will be available on the day of the festival. On entry, you will be asked if you would like to use our child or vulnerable adult wristband scheme. You will be required to write your mobile number on the wristband provided to register. If a Child or vulnerable Adult goes missing, please go straight to our (REUNITE HUB) located next to the Kids Space.
Please see the Pride Festival map for points of reference.
COMMUNITY TENT:
MK Pride Festival are excited to welcome a variety of LGBTQ+ Speakers to the community stage this year along with its chosen charities and sponsors. Please see MK Pride’s socials for the full list of speakers and Q&A sessions.
SENSORY CALMING TENT:
MK Pride Festival are proud to provide a sensory calming space for Children & Adults.
The aim of the space is to provide a safe, low-level stimulation and recalibration zone for neurodivergent festival goers. This space is dark with low-lighting bubble lamps to aid in calming from a very busy and noisy space.
KIDS SPACE:
Providing an amazing assortment of FREE entertainment, workshops, book readings, crafts and colouring. 12pm to 5:30pm, Please see socials for the full lineup.
COMEDY:
MK Pride Festival are proud to provide an impressive and diverse line-up of 6 LGBTQ+ comedians provided by The Queer Comedy Club from 7:30pm.
BSL INTERPRETERS:
MK Pride Festival is fully committed to making sure its festival is accessible to everyone within its community. We have BSL performance interpreters across both the entertainment marquees and community tent.
ACCESSIBILITY:
MK Pride Festival are committed to making sure its festival is accessible to everyone within its community. It has BSL performance interpreters across both the entertainment marquees and community tent. The event also provides braille programs, Revoloo and Disabled toilet facilities, on-site medical services, wheelchair charging stations, a sensory calming tent for children and adults and a dedicated accessibility entrance and exit. Please see the pride festival map for points of reference.
ACCESSIBLE PARKING:
There are plenty of disabled bays positioned around the centre at regular intervals and 80 dedicated parking bays in the multi-storey car park located by John Lewis & Partners.
Multi Storey Car Park: 6am - Midnight Daily. Surface Level: Available 24hrs, free after 6pm. Park from as little as £5.50 for 5 hours! Sat Nav: MK9 3QA
BUSES:
Cricket Green Roundabout at the bottom of Silbury Boulevard is the nearest bus stop to Campbell Park. The following bus routes you can take to get to this destination are:
3, 3A, 7, 21, A1, A2, C10, M5
FROM CMK TRAIN STATION:
There are direct trains from London Euston and Birmingham to Milton Keynes Central. From there you can take the Bus Routes recommended above, take a 45-minute walk, a 12-minute cycle or travel by car which is approximately 10 minutes.
TAXI:
Alternatively, local taxi companies will be aware of our event, but we suggest you also pre-arrange as we expect many people to be exiting the event together. Please see the local taxi numbers below or use the UBER app.
Milton Keynes Taxis: 01908 220022
Skyline Taxis: 01908 222111
001 Royal Cabs: 01908 444444
MKA1 Taxis: 01908 200400
AM Taxis: 01908 226666
PARKING:
thecentre:mk multi-storey car park is a 5-minute walk to the Campbell Park Plateau. From the M1, junction 14 or the A5, take the road marked H5 (A509) and follow signs to the centre of Milton Keynes Central shopping. centre:mk lies between Midsummer Boulevard and Silbury Boulevard, between Saxon Gate (V7) and Marlborough Gate.
DOGS:
MK Prive Festival understands very well that Dogs are a big part of the LGBTQ+ family! PLEASE NOTE: Dogs are allowed onsite until 6pm, with the exception of guide and assistance dogs which have admittance all day. Organisers strongly recommend not exposing Dogs to any of the performance stages as these could be particularly noisy.
AFTER PARTIES:
MK Pride Festival have teamed up with Popworld MK for the ‘Official Pride After Party’. Tickets are available from their website: www.popworldparty.co.uk/milton-keynes
PRIDE VILLAGE:
12th Street Milton Keynes is the premier location for leisure and entertainment and is once again this year’s official pride village. Providing something for everyone from restaurants and entertainment ideal for families through to safe and exciting late-night venues for those wanting to really party!
SEE OUR (GUIDE TO PRIDE) FOR ALL STAGE TIMINGS!
www.issuu.com/mkpridefestival/docs/mk_pride_festival_program_2024
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL?
www.mkpridefestival.com/important-information
STAY UP TO DATE AND FOLLOW ON SOCIALS!
FACEBOOK @MKPRIDEFESTIVAL
INSTAGRAM @MKPRIDEFESTIVAL
TWITTER@MKPRIDEFESTIVAL
TIKTOK @MKPRIDEFESTIVAL
