BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT judge Alesha Dixon, ‘Saxy’ Fleur East, 90’s pop sensation The Vengaboys and The Voice winner Kevin Simms alongside his ‘Liberty X’ bandmates were all amongst the famous faces that turned up to celebrate Birmingham Pride’s landmark 20th anniversary this weekend.

The annual festival, which organisers estimate attracted over 75,000 visitors over the course of its weekend-long celebration, enjoyed glorious sunshine with not a drop of rain in sight, kickstarting on Saturday afternoon with it’s biggest ever parade.

The theme for this, Birmingham Pride’s 20th year, was ‘a Generation of Pride’.

Cutting through the heart of Birmingham City Centre and entertaining over 30,000 participants and spectators alike, the fun, colour, glitz and glamour nevertheless continued to showcase the important work Pride festivals continue to do around the globe.

Stourbridge News: Gay Rights stalwarts Stonewall were amongst the LGBT rights activists present at the Birmingham Pride ParadeGay Rights stalwarts Stonewall were amongst the LGBT rights activists present at the Birmingham Pride Parade

LGBT rights stalwarts Stonewall were amongst the organisations in attendance at the Birmingham Pride Parade.

Representatives from a plethora of organisations and causes showed up to lend their voices to gay rights and awareness - from heavy hitters such as Stonewall and the LGBT branch of Unison through to inspiring shows from the likes of the Persian LGBT Advisory and Proud Gay Ugandans. 

At a time when some may question the need for or motivation behind Pride movements, it was refreshing to see such a spotlight shone once again on giving a public platform to a whole diversity of voices.

But it wasn’t just the causes who showed up - major names from the world of charity, finance and business - including the likes of Lloyds TSB, Halifax, Monarch and even the Scouts - were in attendance once again, pitching their allegiance to the Rainbow Flag.  

It was then on to the City’s vibrant Gay Village, where over the course of the two days a host of names from the worlds of music, TV and entertainment entertained the crowds who flocked from all over the Country - and beyond - to attend the festival, the UK’s largest Pride weekender of it’s kind.

Stourbridge News:  90's Pop Sensation 'The Vengaboys' performing on the Birmingham Pride Main Stage on Saturday.

Kevin Simm, winner of this year’s series of BBC Talent Show The Voice, took to the Main Stage alongside his ‘Liberty X’ bandmates, sharing a roster with the likes of hugely successful X Factor 2014 runner-up and ‘Sax’ singer Fleur East, 90’s Europop sensations The Vengaboys, soul queen Lisa Stansfield and Erasure’s Andy Bell.

Tulisa Contostavlos was there, too.

Elsewhere, Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon danced and sung up at storm on stage at the prolific Nightingale Club Sunday evening, Whitney Houston impersonator Beverley Savarin amazed audiences in the Cabaret Tent Saturday evening with some terrific vocals, whilst a whole host of Birmingham’s most fabulous resident drag queens and cabaret artists - including the likes of Miss Penny, ‘Twiggy’, Charlotte the Harlotte and Miss Marty - entertained the crowds, joined by stars of hit reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race Willam and Latrice Royale - the latter having flown in specifically to The Village Inn for a special pitstop, one night only performance.

If it was the hugely popular event’s most expensive year to date - with entrance to the event alone ranging from £25 - 40 depending on whether you were a single day or weekend attendee - it’s worth remembering it raises around £75,000 for charity each year, and brings in more than £20 million to the City’s local economy.

Stourbridge News:

American Drag Queen, and RuPaul's Drag Race star, Latrice Royale performing a special one-off appearance at The Village Inn on Sunday evening.

With a fantastic lineup of talent, record levels of attendance, perfect weather and a very special anniversary to celebrate, Birmingham Pride 2016 sissied it’s way to fabulousness, and one can already feel the excitement for what may lie in store next year for the big 2-1.

The date’s already set - so get it in your diary and we will see you there!

www.birminghampride.com