There are just two days to go until one of the biggest party weekends in Brum – no not the Eurovision song contest – we’ve been getting the lowdown on what’s on where at Birmingham Pride 2015.  This year’s LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) celebration is themed on “Freedom – Forever United”, reminding us that though the weekend will be spent in revelry that so many people around the world don’t have the opportunity to be themselves and love who they want to love.

Every year the event gets slightly bigger and slightly better.  The program of acts and entertainment planned for this year is varied and impressive.  The two day event will kick off in flamboyant style with a carnival parade around the city centre streets starting at Victoria Square at midday on Saturday 23rd May.  Once that’s over you can head to the gaybourhood with your wristbands or tickets and catch Jesse Glynne, Heather Small, Ms Dynamite, Boney M, Fuse ODG, Union J and many more on the main stage.  Take a look at this programme of events to see where to be when to catch your favourite acts.

Alternatively if you’re not easily offended you can watch some outrageous cabaret like Sandra and Topping & Butch in the marquee.

If you’re feeling sedate you can sit with a Pimms watching the dog show.  Actual dogs, not the erm, rubberised kind, though the puppy pack will probably be sniffing around the place too, they were last year.

If you’re feeling cultured you can get yourselves to Birmingham Conservatoire on Saturday evening to attend the Birmingham Gay Symphony Orchestra (BGSO) Pride Proms.

Obviously there will be the usual host of streetfood vendors for those who just want to party hard, but we know our readers are in to the finer foods in life, so you may want to check out a Brum Yum Yum event – Streetfood Speakeasy.  They’ll be popping up at Amusement 13 on Kent Street.  Brum Yum Yum founder Duncan Stanley Says: “The launch falls on Birmingham Pride Weekend, the UK’s biggest LGBT weekender. Streetfood Speakeasy will be serving throughout the weekend, 5-10pm on Friday, 12-10pm Saturday and Sunday. So festival goers can escape the mayhem, relax & refresh with real food & ravishing cocktails”.  You can find more info on Streetfood Speakeasy on Facebook here.

If you’re feeling particularly energetic ahead of Pride and want to take a proactive strike against the alcoholic calories you’re invariably going to imbibe then I’d suggest meeting up for a run on Thursday evening with LGBT running group The Birmingham Swifts (website here and also on twitter here).

All you need to know about Pride is available on their website (http://www.birminghampride.com).  If you’re planning on attending do checkout how and where to get tickets, and note that ticket purchasing will be extremely busy between 10 and 3 on Saturday.

Happy pride!