LUMO ON BOARD WITH NORTHERN PRIDE

A leading rail company is on the right track, after becoming a supporter of Northern Pride for the first time.

Newcastle based Lumo, which operates up and down the east coast route to London and Edinburgh, is sponsoring the Rainbow Village at this year’s event, which features a number of market stalls and will be extended to run on both the Saturday and Sunday of Pride weekend.

Pride 2023 will take place over the weekend of 22-23 July at Newcastle’s Town Moor and will include some new aspects as well as all of the regular favourites.

The Town Moor will be divided into two distinct areas, the Community Village and The Festival Arena, with the Rainbow Village part of the former.

Martin Gilbert, MD at Lumo said that “supporting Northern Pride is a natural fit” for the organisation.

“As a relatively new company based in Newcastle, diversity and inclusion at the heart of what we do both internally with our great team and in the service we provide our customers with our ‘one-class’ all-inclusive and sustainable electric train service,” he said.

“We know that the work of Northern Pride, and Pride weekend, is important for many of our colleagues and customers, so we’re really proud to be showing our support and getting involved.”

Ste Dunn, Director of Northern Pride, said he was delighted to have Lumo on board.

“We are only able to continue to provide Pride at its current level because of the support we receive and the generosity of our sponsors,” he said.

“We wanted to expand the Rainbow Village over the entire weekend this year, as in previous years it has only been open on the Saturday.

“Because of Lumo’s support we are able to do that and we are very grateful to them.”

This year will also see a small charge for anyone wanting to enter The Festival Arena, although The Community Village remains free.

In addition to the Main Stage - where the yet-to-be-revealed big name acts will perform -The Festival Arena will also feature the BeScene dance and cabaret zone, which will showcase performers from across Newcastle’s LGBTQIA+ scene.

The Festival Arena will have bars and food stalls, along with the funfair and access to the Platinum Bar and Garden – sponsored by Bobby’s Newcastle – for those who have bought tickets for the new and improved VIP space.

Tickets start from £6 for each day or £10 for a weekend pass, with businesses also encouraged to buy tickets and gift them to individuals or organisations which may not otherwise be able to attend.

The Community Village will feature the very popular the Curious Arts stage, as well as the return of the sports and active life zone and the LGBT Northern Social Group which supports those who may be attending Pride for the first time.

The Community Village will also see the return of the Family and Youth zone and the Health and Wellbeing area, which for the first time, will operate across the whole weekend.