Manchester Pride 2017: Everything you need to know

It's time to squeeze into your heels once again, because Manchester Pride is back this Bank Holiday weekend to ensure a summer of Pride ends with a bang. Tens of thousands are expected to turn out for the annual celebration of LGBT+ love in the north-west, which has a theme of Class of 2017: The Graduation Parade. A full four days of festivities is set to kick off on Friday 25 August, with events taking place around the city and some of the UK's biggest music acts taking to the stage at The Big Weekend in the city centre. Here's everything you need to know ahead of the party...

What route does the Pride Parade take?

The parade kicks off at on Saturday 26 August at an earlier time this year of 12.30pm. While there's no set finish, the parade itself is expected to last about two hours - though you'll want to arrive early to ensure you get a good viewing spot. The parade starts on Liverpool Road, before turning onto Deansgate, Peter Street and down towards Portland Street through the Village before heading to the Whitworth Street to Fairfield Street. There will also be a candlelit vigil on Sunday 28 August in Sackville Gardens to remember those lost to the HIV virus.

The Big Weekend

Manchester Pride's flagship event will see some of the biggest names in music take to the stage in Manchester's world-famous gay village. The event is ticketed, with full weekend tickets starting at £28.50 and day tickets available at a lesser rate.

The Thomas Cook Airlines USA Stage

Friday 7pm - Screw the DJ, followed by Tacet 8pm - Saara Aalto 8.45pm - Pixie Lott 9.45pm - G-A-Y presents Melanie C Saturday 4.45pm - Gok Wan DJ set 5.50pm - Lisa Maffia 6.20pm - N-Trance 7pm - Kelli-Leigh 7.35pm - Ultra Nate 7.50pm - Cutmore 8.15pm - Blonde 9.45pm - Example & DJ Wire Sunday DJ - Kriss Herbert 3.15pm - Valerio Lysander 3.50pm - Me and Deboe 4.35pm - Lucy Whittaker 5.15pm - Girli 6.05pm - Yes Lad 6.35pm - Starley 7.30pm - Will Heard 8.30pm - Louisa Johnson 9.30pm - G-A-Y presents Clean Bandit Monday 3.40pm - Frankie Furlow 4.05pm - Divinia De Campo 4.30pm - Ruby Murray 5.05pm - Danny Beard 5.35pm - 5 to 5 5.55pm - Seann Miley Moore 6.30pm - Lucy Spraggan 7.15pm - 5 After Midnight 8pm - Liberty X Girls  

The Sackville Gardens Boutique Stage

Friday - Manbears Stage Sal Ford hosts 7pm - Manchester Big Gay Band 7.20pm - Paul Walker 7.45pm - Drag Roulette 8.10pm - Wolf 9pm - Ross Alexander Saturday - Heather Peace presents 5.15pm - Anne-Marie Sanderson 5.40pm - Mary Spender 6.05pm - Fuzzy Jones 6.30pm - The Coaltown Daisies 7.05pm - Lots Holloway 7.50pm - Sarah Walk 8.40pm - Heather Peace Sunday - Sound of the Village Lee Starr hosts 2.10pm - Gendertonic 2.40pm - Wolfy 2.35pm - Just Alfie 3pm - Rachel Kelly 3.10pm - Krystal Kane 3.20pm - Nanna 3.35pm - PJ Robinson 4pm - Gregg Morton 4.25pm - Bonnie Bon Qui Qui 4.50pm - Bar Pop 5.15pm - Cody Frost 6.05pm - Lucas Primmer 6.30pm - Nick Celino 6.55pm - Tuscan Sun 7.20pm - Belinda Scandal 7.45pm - Kelly Wilde 8.15pm - Nolan 8.50pm - Katrina and the Waves Monday - Sparkle Stage 2pm - Simply Known as Alex 2.20pm - Kicking Jenny 2.40pm - Handsome Molly 3pm - Camden Rushton 3.40pm - Nina Kvasnik 4pm - Jojo McClay 4.20pm - Geri Love 4.50pm - Dee Chanelle

Gaydio Dance Arena

Friday 7pm - Tacet 8pm - DJ Paulette 9pm - Danielle Moore (Crazy P DJ Set) 10.15pm - Simian Mobile Disco DJ set Saturday 6pm - Kriss Herbert 7pm - Jodie Harsh 8pm - Jeremy Healy 9.15pm - Anton Powers 10.30pm - Danny Howard Sunday 6.30pm - Sian Bennett 7.45pm - Shaun J Wright 9pm - Ben Pearce 10.30pm - Faithless DJ Set

Where to stay

Manchester boasts a range of hotels that will be putting up Pride-goers over the weekend. For those looking to spend the weekend in the lap of luxury, the 5-star Radisson Blu Edwardian in the iconic Free Trade Hall will be getting into the spirit of Pride with a Gaydio Event on its grounds on Saturday 26 August from 12pm-4pm. The hotel is also offering the chance to win a luxury stay, dinner and champagne at Opus One for 2 people as part of their #BeeProud @RBEHotels compeititon. To enter, simply share your Pride moments with them using the hasthag #BeeProud and tagging @RBEHotels. The Radisson Blu Edwardian will also be hosting a #BeeProud of Manchester Afternoon Tea, with the proceeds being shared with the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund launched after the Manchester bombing in partnership with the British Red Cross and the Manchester Pride Charity. 

How to get there

There are lots of affordable options if you're planning to travel to Manchester via coach or train, but book early to ensure you get the best deal possible. If you're travelling by bus, National Express offer advance fares from just £18.10 one-way from London. You can also book advance tickets via thetrainline.com/farefinder or nationalrail.co.uk. For more information visit manchesterpride.com. Grab your tickets for The Big Weekend festival here. More stories: Petition calls for Confederate statue to be replaced with Missy Elliott monument Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull: Debating gay people's right to marry is 'legitimate'