Bishop Auckland Pride returns this weekend, with Bishop Auckland College set to be transformed into a summer celebration of live music, drag, food, family activity and community pride.
At a time when public celebrations of inclusion and community feel more important than ever, organisers say Bishop Auckland Pride is focused on creating a welcoming, positive space where people can come together.
The event takes place on Saturday 13 June from 2pm to 7pm. Entry is £1 on the door, with children able to enter free. Optional children’s activity wristbands will be available for £5. Audiences are being encouraged to bring camping chairs and blankets, settle in on the college lawns and make an afternoon of it, with live entertainment, street food, bars, stalls, family activities and community organisations across the site.
At a time when public celebrations of inclusion and community feel more important than ever, organisers say Bishop Auckland Pride is focused on creating a welcoming, positive space where people can come together.
The event takes place on Saturday 13 June from 2pm to 7pm. Entry is £1 on the door, with children able to enter free. Optional children’s activity wristbands will be available for £5. Audiences are being encouraged to bring camping chairs and blankets, settle in on the college lawns and make an afternoon of it, with live entertainment, street food, bars, stalls, family activities and community organisations across the site.
Headlining the main stage is X Factor winner and North East star Joe McElderry, who will perform live alongside Tess Tickle & The Dragettes, The 80’s Girls Show, Channy, Connor Read, and a Taylor Swift tribute show among others. Families can make the most of a dedicated family area, with bouncy castles, mini golf, games and face painting available throughout the afternoon. Children’s activity wristbands cost £5 and give all–day access to the family activities, with accompanying adults able to enter the area free with their children. The wider site and stage programme are suitable for all ages, making the event easy for families to enjoy together.
Organisers say this year’s programme has been designed to give people plenty of different reasons to come along, whether they are there for the music, the family activities, the food, the atmosphere, or simply to be part of one of Bishop Auckland’s biggest summer celebrations. Thomas Wales, Managing Director at Baccanalia, said: “This is the point where you can really see how much Bishop Auckland Pride has grown. Joe McElderry is obviously a huge draw, but the full programme shows this is much more than one headline performance. “We want people to feel they can just come down, bring a chair or blanket, get something to eat, enjoy the stage and spend the afternoon with us. There is something here for families, music fans, people who want a relaxed afternoon with food and a drink, and anyone who wants to be part of something positive locally.
“We’ve worked hard to keep the event accessible, with £1 entry, free Bishop Auckland College student entry and a programme that makes it easy for people to turn up, enjoy themselves and feel part of the celebration.” The event is produced by Baccanalia in association with Bishop Auckland College and supported by Bishop Auckland Town Council and Hiyed CIC. Councillor Michael Siddle, Mayor of Bishop Auckland, said: “We are very pleased to support Bishop Auckland Pride again this year. It has become an important event for the town, bringing people together in a positive, welcoming and family– friendly way. “As Bishop Auckland continues to build its cultural offer, and as we await further announcements around the Town of Culture programme, events like Pride show the strength, diversity and ambition of the town. “We are proud to support an event that celebrates community, inclusion and local pride, while adding to the growing programme of activity taking place across Bishop Auckland.” Bishop Auckland Pride is now in its third year and has grown rapidly since launching, with organisers expecting a record crowd in 2026 following the success of the previous two years.
Shaun Hope, Principal at Bishop Auckland College, said: “Bishop Auckland College is delighted to once again welcome the wider community onto campus for Bishop Auckland Pride. “The college has a proud history of opening its spaces for major public events and entertainment, from past performances by names such as Beverley Knight and The Hoosiers, through to Joe McElderry this weekend. “Events like this create valuable opportunities for our students and help show the college as a welcoming space for the whole community. We are proud to support a celebration that helps make Bishop Auckland feel vibrant, inclusive and full of life.”
Entry is pay–on–the–door, with visitors encouraged to arrive from 2pm, find a good spot on the college lawns, and enjoy the packed programme from the start. Free event parking is available at the neighbouring St John’s Catholic School & Sixth Form College. Bishop Auckland Pride takes place on Saturday 13 June at Bishop Auckland College from 2pm to 7pm.
