With the return of Manchester Pride this Summer Bank Holiday, (Friday 23rd – Monday 26th August) Kampus, the city’s favourite neighbourhood has announced the return of its fabulous weekend lineup of fun events – all hosted in collaboration with Manchester’s LGBTQIA+ community.
The jam-packed lineup will include something for everyone; with the return of the iconic Love Party, plenty of live music from local artists, a family-friendly crafting collab between Pollen and Born to be Wild Child, a special ice cream sandwich from the infamous Nell’s, a street party hosted by Red Light and drinks that will flow all Bank Holiday long!
Throughout the weekend, partners involved will be raising money for some of the city’s LGBTQIA+ charities, last year’s activities raised over £8K, with the hopes that this year it will be exceeded.
The full lineup is as follows:
Wednesday 21st August
5:30PM – 9.00PM: Nell’s – Session in the Garden
Get the Bank Holiday vibes going early, with Nell’s house band playing a session in Kampus’ gardens on the evening of Wednesday 21st. Expect neo-soul, nu-jazz, and laid-back grooves. Come and join in if you fancy a jam ahead of a fully loaded BH weekend.
Friday 23rd August
6.00PM – 9.00PM: Private Joy – DJ session in the garden
Charismatic vocalist, composer and producer Private Joy aka Pops Roberts will be joining the celebrations at Kampus on the much-anticipated launch day of her EP, to deliver a very special DJ set in the garden. Expect all things soulful – from the street to house with afro energy and percussive breaks.
Saturday 24th August
10:30AM – 12:30PM: Pollen x Born to be Wild Child – Pride special
Free Tickets via Eventbrite
Bring the family along to Kampus to celebrate Pride with an amazing crafting session from Born To Be Wild Child.
Get crafty with paper rainbow glasses and paper heart headband making; the perfect new accessories to wear to the parade, plus colourful collaging and more, to get your creative juices flowing! Manchester fave Pollen will also be organising coffees (essential for the parents!) and baked treats (to be enjoyed by everyone!) all morning.
2:00PM – 11:00PM: Love Party
Donation Ticket via Skiddle
The infamous Pay-what-you-can Pride party, Love Party, is back at Kampus! As always, all profits will go to LGBTQIA+ charities; this year the event is raising money for grassroots charity Mermaids supporting trans youth and Hope Not Hate, the UK’s leading anti-fascist campaign group.
Love Party will be taking over the Kampus gardens, the bungalow and beyond…all literally across the water from Canal Street. The party is jam-packed with top Mancunian DJs, including resident DJ Thom DockinG, local legends Kiss Me Again and many more! Plus, expect a plethora of performances including a set from drag queen Vil, and a camp flag procession – all hosted by the amazing The Fat Britney, who will be shaking collection buckets and making psychic predictions for your love life if you cross her palm with donations!
Expect gorgeous food, gorgeous surroundings, gorgeous drinks and more, for nine hours of pure LOVE!
Gary, Co-Founder of Love Party: “We’re so happy to be bringing Love Party back to Kampus for the fourth year. We’ve been throwing an annual Love Party since 2016 in different locations around the city and it feels like Kampus has become the perfect home; with its beautiful green space opposite Canal Street becoming an iconic party space for the community old school vibes we bring every time.
We’re returning with a line-up of amazing LGBTQ+ DJs and performers spreading the love and filling the gardens with disco and queer power! It’s going to be another unmissable Saturday so give whatever donation you can and we’ll see you on the dancefloor!”
Sunday 25th August
11.00AM – 4.00PM: Pop-Up Market Co and Family Crafting – Pride special!
The regular monthly market at Kampus will be back with a lineup of local queer makers and artisans with stalls hosting locally made fresh food, beautiful handmade ceramics, unique prints and homewares, quirky jewellery and accessories and more!
Alongside the market, there will be a family-friendly crafting session – take a breather from the hustle and bustle to get creative and express yourself with a plethora of fun crafts to show off your creative spirit & take home as a homemade souvenir!
6:00PM – 11:00PM: Red Light Pride Street Party
Queer cocktail bar Red Light is throwing a huge free street party with an amazing lineup of their favourite resident DJs and dancers, bringing the party to Little David Street!
The iconic cobbled street will turn into a huge party from 6PM – with expertly crafted Red Light cocktails served up in a queer-inclusive atmosphere, where everyone is welcome to share in the good vibes! There will be a drinks menu of Summer classics available all night, including refreshing Aperol Spritz and Palomas, as well as some Red Light classics such as the Dark & Hoppy – with Appleton rum, ginger, lime, and tropical hops.
Deana, from Red Light added, “Following the success of our last two street parties, we can’t wait to welcome regulars and newcomers alike back for another epic boogie, with our amazing local, female queer-run DJ collective, Mixing Mates. Let your pride (and the drinks!) flow!”
All weekend
1:00PM – 11:00PM: Sunset sessions with Makers Quarter
Live acoustic music, bar and great vibes on the terrace, overlooking the garden. Offering a chilled escape from the hustle and bustle of the busy BH weekend – right until the sun sets.
Across the weekend, Kampus favourite Nell’s will have bars set up outside serving up beers and a selection of classic spritzes – perfect for Summertime sipping! Throughout the Bank Holiday weekend, donations from sales of the special ice cream sandwiches from Nell’s and Makers Quarter cocktails will be made to Mermaids and Hope Not Hate.
Adam Higgins, co-founder of Kampus’ joint developers Capital&Centric commented, “We’re really excited to be bringing a weekend of Pride-themed fun back to Manchester this Bank Holiday. After the success of last year, we’re looking forward to offering a safe space for all to party, chill out or get the best of both worlds!
Last year, our Bank Holiday activities raised over £8K for our chosen charities and we know that the generosity of Manchester and everyone visiting for the weekend will achieve more amazing results this year.”
Kampus will be open and accessible to all, all weekend long; with entrances on all sides – notably from Aytoun Street & Minshull Street.
