REVELLERS packed venues “to the rafters” in an explosion of Oldham Pride celebrations, over the weekend.

Chairman of this year’s festival, Rev David Austin, vicar of Holy Trinity Church in Coldhurst and St Stephen and All Martyrs in Oldham, said this year’s Pride “went really well” with partygoers at The George Tavern, a popular LGBTQ+ establishment, “spilling out onto the streets”.

Proceedings kicked off on Wednesday, with a performance of Riot Act at the Oldham Coliseum, before the Queer Cabaret took to the stage on Friday, with audience members including the Oldham Mayor, councillor Jenny Harrison and the Oldham Pride mascot, Fifi the owl.

Chris Lawson, artistic director at the Oldham Coliseum, said:"As a building and an organisation the Coliseum is a safe space, open to all and an active ally", adding:"We were overjoyed to be a part of Oldham Pride, holding events at the theatre, welcoming familiar and new audiences and also working with collaborators."

On Saturday, there was collaboration with Festival Oldham, including the LGBT+ performance, Shade, in Parliament Square, and cabaret acts at The George Tavern on George Street, hosted by landlady Terri Fox, which raised money for the George House Trust, a HIV support project.

A post published on The George Tavern’s Facebook page on Sunday thanked “everyone” for their “help and support” for making it the “most outstanding weekend ever” and for the fact that “Oldham Pride will be bigger and better every year.”

The post continued: “Thank you to all our wonderful customers at the glitter palace old and new for packing the venue to the rafters none stop all day and night inside and out, and our amazing bar team who I can say are the most hard working and loyal staff ever.”

Miss DQ – The Diamond Diva and Belinda Scandal were among the acts who performed at the pub with music by Blaq Ivory and Miss Mel as well as a DJ.

Rounding off the weekend an afternoon picnic at Dunwood Park was attended by around 30 people on Sunday, including parent and older person groups. The picnic was followed by a Pride service at the Oldham Parish Church, a first for Oldham Pride.

Speaking about the Pride service, Rev Austin said: “It was very well attended, both by Churchgoers and by those who maybe don’t have any faith or are struggling to identify or reconcile their spirituality and their sexuality.”

He added: “In the borough not all LGBTQ+ groups are known to each other, we’re fostering their sense of community spirit here in Oldham and making people aware of the support networks.”

Next year’s Oldham Pride is already in the planning stages, according to the reverend and will include a procession and main stage on Parliament Square showcasing “top acts”.