Pride festival to move from city centre to park

Plans have been announced to move Wakefield's Pride festival to a new location this summer.

A licensing application has been submitted to Wakefield Council to hold the 2025 event in Thornes Park in August.

Last year Pride took place in the city centre, with a stage for local talent at Trinity Walk.

According to the Experience Wakefield website, the festival will take place on 3 August.

The application seeks permission for recorded music, dance and the sale of alcohol on a Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 to 20:30 BST.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the application states: "This year Wakefield Pride has partnered with Good Times Festival, a new event for Wakefield, to act as a fundraiser to keep the Pride Sunday event free to attend."

Both days are expected feature a different line-up of artists.

Experience Wakefield also said: "Good Times will run the day before Pride on  2 August in the same venue of Thornes Park and feature performances by acts such as Ellie Sax, Blazin' Squad, The Holloways, Skinny Living, Toploader and Sigala."

The Wakefield Pride team has organised the event since 2005, having gained charitable status in spring 2020.

The charity aims to promote equality and diversity for the public benefit, in particular the elimination of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.