MORNING

Pride Walk with T100 & Kinetika

9:15am – Purfleet Station, Purfleet | FREE TO ATTEND – BOOKING REQUIRED
Purfleet born musicians, Jumeaux will be performing at Purfleet Station to set the mood as walkers gather for their morning trek, carrying Kinetika’s shiny new, handmade Pride Flags. The walk will depart just after 9:30am along the river front towards The Wharf Pub.

The route will take the group along the River Front from Purfleet to Grays, under the QEII Bridge. The walk will include multiple stops to take in the Graffiti Walls and art around you and to hold space for conversations exploring the idea of ‘firsts’ and the thoughts behind the creation of the wonderful Pride Flags, made by Thurrock’s LGBTQ+ Community.

* Spaces on the walk are currently full, but you can keep an eye on spaces at www.t100festival.co.uk

Human Library

9:30am – 12:30pm – Grays Library, Thameside Complex, Grays | FREE TO ATTEND
If walking isn’t your thang, step into Grays Library and spend some time with a living book. We invite you to spend some time with a stranger and listen to their story. We encourage everyone to take pride in their experiences and share your life lessons in a safe space as part of Essex Book Festival.

Pride Brunch

From 11am – The Wharf Pub, Grays | FREE TO ATTEND
Sirena Hart will be working her wonders for Pride Brunch at The Wharf Pub with Thurrock Pride’s very own cocktail on offer to mark the special occasion, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options will be available… Get in the party mood, bring the sequins and start as you mean to go on!

* This is the meeting point for Thurrock’s very first Pride Walk that will be leaving just after 12pm.

Pride Walk Pt. 2

12pm – The Wharf Pub, Grays > Thameside Complex, Grays | FREE TO ATTEND
The second leg of the Pride Walk will be leaving The Wharf Pub between 12pm and 12:30pm – so get there early, enjoy a mocktail and the siren call of Sirena Hart and pop-up on some more glitter.
This part of the walk is un-capped and is open to all who wish to walk with us.

We will be walking along the sea-front, down Grays High Street and towards Thurrock’s safe space, the Thameside Theatre to get the party underway. Note, we will be accompanied by our own security.

You are invited to wear whatever you wish, be authentically you we do ask you to note, that we are claiming this part of the day as a gentle Pride Walk – we’ll work up to a Parade another time!

AFTERNOON

Flag Raising & Street Party

1pm on til’ 6pm – Thameside Complex, Grays | FREE TO ATTEND
After Pride Walk Pt. 2 courtesy of T100, Kinetika and wonderful volunteers we will arrive at The Thameside Complex. 1pm will commence the raising of the Pride Progress Flag outside of the building with a keynote speech given by Thurrock’s own Jordan Gray and the installation of Kinetika’s first ever Pride Flags. This is a momentous occasion and we invite everyone to come along and witness the Thurrocks move and to celebrate with us! … From here on out we are in PARTY mode.

Titan Road to the side of the Thameside Complex will be closed off so we can get our Street Party on and chairs and tables will be spread out across the rainbow floor. A short distance away the building will open its very own Club Tropicana Bar for beverages and snacks, outside food vendors will be located to the side of The Thameside Complex, on the grass outside of the Library entrance where you can purchase food and refreshments as you float around the space taking in performances, panel discussions and workshops before the evening festivities.

Grays Library will also be open all morning and afternoon until 5pm offering Arts and Crafts activities AND Story Corner. They also have a wonderful selection of LGBTQ+ books and stories relevant to Pride for all ages available to borrow!

Pride Stage Performances

Pride Stage – Outside, Thameside Complex | FREE TO ATTEND
In front of the building we have walk about act Classic Connee brazenly roaming the area along side performances back-to-back on our Pride Stage, infront of the building bringing you local twins Jumeaux putting a double dose of L in LGBTQ+, ‘Unashamedly Pop’ artist Venn Smyth, camp and stagey Tuppence A’Bag, local Community Choir Thurrock Voices, 5678 – the Steps Experience and LGBT+ Superstar, Allan Jay!

Panel Discussions

Foyer Stage – Ground floor, Thameside Complex | FREE TO ATTEND
Inside the Complex, we will have LOTS on offer – activities, workshops and Panel Discussions.
Between 1:45pm – 5:15pm the Foyer Stage will be home to a variety of Panel Discussions facilitating conversations between key speakers and local community members on a host of interesting topics!
No booking required and free to access – with a chance to submit questions.

Workshops

Thameside Complex | FREE TO ATTEND – BOOKING REQUIRED
Throughout the day within the Complex we will be bringing a whole bunch of wonderful artists from the LGBTQ+ Community to provide a number of FREE WORKSHOPS!

Workshops have a limited number of spaces and will need booking ahead of time BUT not to panic, you can do that by clicking HERE. To be able to attend these workshops without paying a penny to do so – is preposterous, so we implore you to take us up on the offer!

Simply click or tap the title of the workshop you would like to book and it’ll take you to a link far-far-away where you can pinch your free space. Happy booking!

Street party will wrap up around 6pm, giving everyone time to get their glad rags on – ready for the evening’s festivities.

EVENING

A Great Big Queer Cabaret

Suitable for 18+ (16+ with supervision for cabaret only) AND purchasing a ticket for the evening Cabaret gets all 18+ free entry to the Thurrock Pride After Party from 10:30pm – til’ late!

Thurrock Pride After Party

10:30pm – late | EXCLUSIVE ENTRY WITH CABARET TICKET – 18+
One half of the fun-loving duo SILLY B!TCH DISCO, DJ HELHUN delivers you an uplifting set of good-time-gal n gays music, past and present that demands you raise a glass and shake your ass. From swirling around to disco divas to poppin’ your puss to RnB – DJ HELHUN brings all the fun.

Whitney, Britney, Diana and Donna – all the top gals will be in town. You think you‘re the only one who loves to slut drop to Beyonce, dance out of time to a 90’s club banger and then totter around your handbag to a disco remix of Celine Dion while warbling out of tune? Think again babes… ‘

SUMMARY

Saturday 8 June from 9.30am FREE
Join T100 Festival on their pride celebration walk leaving Purfleet Station at 9.30am to walk along the riverfront. Jumeaux will perform their infectious melodies, playful rap and wavy synths.at the Walk and throughout the day. Book your place on the walk: https://t100festival.co.uk/thurrock-pride-walk-2024/

Pride Brunch 11am-12.15pm There will be a pit-stop at The Wharf Pub for performances by Sirena Hart and mocktails. Heading to Thameside Complex from 12.15pm.

Human Library 9.30am-12.30pm A living book unique experience. Hear real life stories and embrace LGBTQ+ communities. Grays Library part of Thameside Complex.

Raising of the Pride Progress Flag & Street Party 1pm An afternoon of family-friendly workshops, performances, panel discussion and a delicious food court. Performances from LGBTQ+ superstar Allan Jay, Steps tribute act 5,6,7,8 and plenty of laughs with Classic Connee.
Sirena Hart will run a Drag Art Masterclass and Paul James from Kryolan will deliver a Make Up workshop for the Trans community.

Panel Discussions include Diversity in the LGBTQ+ Community with Yogesh Taylor, Vinay Jobanputra (Bollyqueer), Women in the LGBTQ+ Community with Kelly Jones, Disability and the Queer Community with Martin Roberts, Daryl Beeton, Parenting in the LGBTQ+ Community Thurrock Fostering Team, Paul McGunnigle-White c2c Rail, Hate Crime with Essex Police, Thurrock Council, Transgender Awareness with Claire Prosho.
Sports and representation featuring Colchester Kings, Rochester Hawks, Pride of Irons and Television, Film and Stage Queer Representations.

Plus VideoClub present a curated selection of short films by LGBTQ+ filmmakers in and around the Thameside Complex foyer.

8pm moves the evening up into the Thameside Theatre for A Great Big Queer Cabaret, a ticketed event for 18+ (16+ with adult supervision) featuring local funny person Jordan Gray, Cortina Ford and friends.
Thurrock Pride After Party follows on for the over 18’s from 10pm – late…
By purchasing a ticket to the evening’s Cabaret you gain free access to the After Party!