A pub in Ripon is set to host a free two-day Pride celebration this weekend, featuring live music and tribute acts.
The Black Swan Pride 2026 on Westgate on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June is set to be the biggest event yet.
Sara and Kelly Hirst, owners of the popular pub, said: “We created this event to help make our city a place where everyone, especially members of the LGBTQ+ community and future generations, feel welcomed, accepted, and free to be themselves without judgement.
But they still get some very unpleasant messages when they promote the event on social media.
Kelly said: “We’ve had quite a few messages, mainly anonymous and there’s no need really. We do it because we care. This is one way of showing the community that it’s all about everybody.
“It varies (online comments) you get some that are just hiding behind the keyboard. There have been quite a lot, but the first Pride that we did four years ago was probably the worst for abusive messages. It’s better now, a lot of support out there.
“You’re always going to have a minority of people who don’t like Pride, it’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but it’s for people that need it, and it is the minority of people that don’t understand that.
“You also get people saying why is there nothing for Army Day?”
But the pub is well known for supporting Army Day as Kelly explained: “We have a lot of the old army engineers come into our pub, but on Remembrance Day, we go out and we do all sorts. This is the main pub that they all come to after too!”
This year’s line-up includes a Cher tribute act, Britain’s Got Talent performer Finley Carter from York and the Lady Bears of Leeds.
Organisers have also arranged a ska tribute act on the Sunday for Father’s Day too.
Black Swan Pride 2026 starts at 1pm on Saturday 20th June running through to Sunday evening.
