Rushden pub to host Pride weekend featuring lip sync, karaoke and a drag show
The Welcome Inn will once again host a weekend-long celebration for the LGBTQ+ community in June in conjunction with worldwide Pride month.
The three-day event on June 19, 20 and 21 is supporting SERVE and Stonewall, the former a Rushden-based organisation which offers assistance to older people and adults with disabilities, and the latter the UK’s most prominent charity advocating for the continued rights of people in the LGBTQ+ community.
Friday will kick off the celebrations at 7pm with live lip sync, before karaoke in the Irchester Road pub’s garden from 8pm, and an over-18s live drag performance from Miss Terry Tour at 9pm.
Saturday will see sponsors Big Top Marquees set up a stage, with vendor stalls and food vans Swedish Kitchen and Loosey Goosey Grill offering food and drink from midday.
Sapphire Matthewman, organiser of the event said: “We are moving from the garden to the car park this year where one of our pride headline sponsors Big Top Marquees are setting us up a stage, vendor stalls and food vans Swedish Kitchen and Loosey Goosey Grill running up each side!
“The Illusionist working the pub with his tricks, face painter all day, Beat Route Radio will be in the garden live streaming , Todd from Titan Fitness has a small hay bale for all to have some fun.
“This is a fully free event where everyone can attend, be themselves, and had a great time.”
Performances from Big About Singing Corby Community Choir, Queen classics from Mario Megaro, and local dance groups Born 2 Dance Northamptonshire, Stellar Dance Wellingborough, and Wellingborough gang show will also take place on Saturday, before the evening ends with an over 18s only performance from Traya Buns and other drag queens.
And finally, Sunday will feature a raffle, live music, and a Fathers Day race for dads.