By Rachael Grealish

Thousands turned out over the weekend in Whitehaven as Pride by the Harbourside brought two free music festivals to the town.

Pride in Whitehaven really kicked off on Thursday, August 1, with the opening of the Colours Whitehaven Inclusion Hub and Cafe.

The new venue boasts to be a safe space for young people, adults and the vulnerable elderly with various areas inside for group activities and places to speak in discretion.

The new hub and cafe was opened by the High Sheriff of Cumbria, Christopher Holmes DL, Whitehaven town crier and the Whitehaven and Workington MP, Josh MacAlister.

Hundreds then braved the rain on Friday, August 2, for the Colours Harbourside Festival as Blue – made up of the original line-up, Antony Costa, Duncan James, Lee Ryan and Simon Webbe – praised the importance of Pride.

Speaking as “the only gay member of the band”, Duncan said: “It is so important that we celebrate [pride] because the world is such a mess right now.”

The boyband thanked the audience for their dedication and patience waiting in the heavy rain before playing some of their biggest hits inlcuding “Sorry”, “All Rise”, “Flyby” and “One Love”.

Whigfield also headlined and got herself in “trouble” with Cumbria Police after performing her hit 90s single, “Saturday Night” on a Friday – which she had previously teased was not on the setlist for that reason.Sam and the Womp
Pop group

Sam and the Womp performed some of their upbeat hits including their number one “Bom Bom”, while Ashley Paul performed some originals and classic covers.

The sun came out for Pride itself, which kicked off with the march across Whitehaven harbour on Saturday, August 2, led by the Whitehaven and Workington MP, Josh MacAlister, Her Maj, Cumbria’s Lord Lieutenant, the Whitehaven town cried and Proud and Diverse Cumbria.

Thousands flocked to the Harbourside for the festival that included dozens of stall holders and the free Saturday concert.

CRFM hosted onstage, alongside drag acts Stella the Fella and SudoCrem, as DJ Sash, Katherine Ellis – Ross Alexander’s Blitz Kidz, Mary Kiani, Jenny Ball and Kelvin J Wood, among others, performed.

A youth tent provided free arts and crafts for families, while companies including Sellafield, United Utilities, The Samartians, Cumbria Police, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Services, among others were on hand at their market stalls to interact and host stall games.

The entire weekend was free to attend and organiser, Proud and Diverse Cumbria’s, Glenn Anderson said this was becuase he feels so strongly about “financial inequality”.

In a speech he said: “I don’t think it should be necesarry to spend £50 or £60 to see a concert with your family, so we as an organisation took the opportunity to reach out to our amazing sponsors.”

This is the second year Pride has been held in Whitehaven – following the success of East 17 headlining in 2023 – and the 15th anniversary of Cumbria Pride, which will be held on September 21, 2024 in Carlisle.