Fundraising charity Manchester Pride has announced there will be no more booking fees as they work with Quaytickets as agent for the 2013 festival.  Big Weekend e-tickets will be available for the first time in a package that sees booking fees abolished and Monday day ticket prices reduced.

Early Bird tickets for the award-winning Big Weekend will go on sale on Friday 26 April and will cost just £16 for the whole four-day weekend. With no booking fee charged, most people will pay the same, or less, for their ticket than in 2012.  Only a limited number of Early Bird tickets are available and festival goers are encouraged to act quickly to avoid missing out.

Now in its 23rd year, the Manchester Pride Festival consists of four elements: Pride Fringe; The Big Weekend; The Manchester Pride Parade; and The George House Trust Candlelit Vigil, and has raised over £1 million for LGBT community groups and those living with, or affected by, HIV.

Running throughout August, the Pride Fringe will present a colourful programme of arts, music, heritage, culture and debate, with around 40 events taking place, the majority of which are free to attend.

The August Bank Holiday sees the return of The Big Weekend; a four-day celebration in the heart of Manchester’s Gay Village. From 23 – 26 August, visitors will be treated to a programme of live entertainment across three stages, along with community exhibition areas and village markets. Early Bird weekend tickets start at £16.00 with day tickets priced at £13.50 and Monday day tickets only £10, with the promise of some great live acts to make this a day worth spending here. 

The vibrant Manchester Pride Parade will again weave its way through the city centre on Saturday 24 August from 1pm. The festival closes with the George House Trust HIV Candlelit Vigil in Sackville Gardens on Monday 26 August at 9:15pm.

Chief Executive for Manchester Pride, John Stewart said:

We are pleased to be working with Quaytickets, the trading arm of The Lowry, this year.  By scrapping booking fees, we have put together a package that will see the final online purchase price cut compared to last year, while we have also reduced the price of Monday day tickets.  With e-tickets available for the first time, further savings will be available to anyone choosing to have their ticket delivered electronically.

We are looking forward to the first official announcement of exciting artists on Thursday 25 April, ahead of tickets going on sale the following day.  This year, only a limited number of Early Bird tickets are available so we urge people to act fast and take advantage of the reduced rate.

To find out more about Manchester Pride and this year’s festival you can follow the charity on Twitter @manchesterpride or visit the website at manchesterpride.com