Thousands of people enjoyed the 2025 Sefton Pride march and celebration as organisers hailed the event as “a perfect blend of borough unity and inclusion”.
The growing annual event, organised by the Sefton Pride CIC, has been held in Southport town centre in 2023 (Southport Market) and 2024 (Victoria Park).
This year it was decided to switch the venue to Bootle, with the march starting from Bootle Town Hall and ending at the new Salt & Tar events space next to the Strand shopping centre.
At Salt & Tar, participants enjoyed an afternoon and evening filled with fabulous live music, entertainment, dancers, food and drink, craft stalls and friendship.
The Main Event ran from midday until 8pm, beginning with a live DJ set to welcome participants. A packed programme of entertainment followed, featuring performances from local singer Sam Hopper, dance group MD Productions, the Scrapyard Studios choir, and Bootle’s very own drag performers Pam Sandwich and Victoria Jones, who starred as Kylie Minogue.
The event also included an interactive science show hosted by Wacky Jacky, with additional performers joining from across Sefton and beyond.
Visitors savoured some superb food and drink with traders from across Sefton, with Lock and Quay operating the bar and The Bus Yard and Tik Taco providing hot food.
A vibrant market of traders sold rainbow-themed merchandise while numerous community organisations and service providers hosted stalls to engage with and support attendees.
This free family-friendly event was open to all as a celebration of unity, visibility, equality and a key moment in Sefton’s calendar of inclusive community events.
Sefton Pride 2025 is organised by Sefton Pride CIC, with support from sponsors including Curlett Jones Estates, Acorn Insurance, and Fletchers Solicitors.
Event organiser Jen Corcoran said:
“Sefton Pride 2025 was all I could have wished for and more. It was the perfect blend of borough unity and inclusion.
“Many people who belong to the LGBTQIA+ community feel unsafe, and it seems to be getting worse instead of better for many, so it is more important than ever to hold Pride events.
“There was incredible representation in our performers, stall holders, community partners and attendees. I am so proud that so many who came told me that it felt like a community event and that they felt safe and seen.
“I am truly grateful to everyone who made this event possible and I look forward to working together more in the future and seeing people standing up for the community all year round.”
Follow updates on the Sefton Pride Instagram page: Instagram
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