Liverpool Pride organisers are delighted to announce that one of the city’s most popular events will return on Saturday 2nd August 2014.

This year marks the fifth anniversary for Liverpool Pride, which was established in 2010 and takes place each year to coincide with the date of murdered gay teenager Michael Causer 6 years ago.

After a poll, the public have spoken and the theme for this year’s Liverpool Pride is Glam Fairy Tales, with those attending encouraged to come dressed in their most wild and wonderful interpretations of the theme.

Liverpool Pride organisers are still in talks and yet to finalise the exact locations of this year’s event but can confirm that the Liverpool Gay Quarter will remain a main festival site focusing around the Stanley Street and Dales Street areas.

Also returning will be the free Liverpool Pride March through the city centre streets which kicks off the day in celebratory style at 12pm from St George’s Plateau. Organisers encourage as many groups, organisations and individuals to participate, entertainment and activities are also planned for the muster at St Georges Hall.

For the first time, part of Liverpool Pride 2014 is to be a paid event, ticketholders will gain entry into the zones which contain the main performance areas. Ticket prices have been kept to a minimum and cost as little as £5 for early bird bookers and will go on public sale in the near future. The decision to ticket the event was not taken lightly, first and foremost it is to ensure the event will take place this year as well as safeguarding sustainability, the organisers aim to attract bigger name artists and performers, and also to improve safety and facilities at what will become the largest single-day Pride event in the U.K.

As always, Liverpool Pride will remain a family friendly event with all ages encouraged to attend, there will be a free zone at the festival with entertainment for those not wishing to pay to visit the main stages but that still want to enjoy and remain part of the festivities.

Lucy Day, Chair of Liverpool Pride Charity said, “Liverpool Pride is a campaign for LGBT equality and to raise awareness of hate crime which many members of the LGBT community face on a daily basis. The free march through Liverpool City Centre will be followed up by a big celebration of LGBT culture in the heart of the LGBT Liverpool community. Whilst increased costs and scarcity of funding have meant that we’re unable to offer a totally free event this year, we are working hard to ensure it will be an affordable and sustainable event, we are also planning sections of the site plan to be free and we encourage everyone to take part in and enjoy”.

The performance line up for Liverpool Pride 2014 will be announced in the coming months, as will a programme of film and fringe events.

Last year’s Liverpool Pride was the most successful event to date, with around 65,000 people in total enjoying the superhero themed festivities, including 6,000 marching in the parade and 20,000 spectators lining the city centre streets to cheer them on. Across the two main festival sites, the Pier Head (Main Stage) and Stanley Street, 65,000 revellers of all ages soaked up the music and atmosphere, with visitors travelling from as far as Germany, Dubai and even Australia to join in the fun.

With the changes ahead, expect Liverpool Pride 2014 to be an even more popular hit!