The Picnic concept grew out of the idea that there is still a yearning within the communities DNA re Pride that there should be a free park-setting out-of-doors event, however our feeling was that given the rapidly growing nature of the wider LGBT+ community, it should be family friendly, promoting cross community cohesion, and broadly based around Sport, Health & Wellbeing, and therefore stand apart from the 'need' to be a club/dance event, it left Pride free to develop something entirely fresh...
The Picnic concept grew out of the idea that there is still a yearning within the communities DNA re Pride that there should be a free park-setting out-of-doors event, however our feeling was that given the rapidly growing nature of the wider LGBT+ community, it should be family friendly, promoting cross community cohesion, and broadly based around Sport, Health & Wellbeing, and therefore stand apart from the 'need' to be a club/dance event, it left Pride free to develop something entirely fresh and community based… More akin to Sydney's Fair Day and Brighton Pride's of old.
The theme grew from realising we could take the RVT Sports Day concept and add real sport! ...and so the obvious partner was London 2018 and their bid for the Gay Games along with their delivery partner Out for Sport London and Pride Sports. This was such a phenomenally successful aspect of the day and we are keen to continue this as the primary theme in the day time. This year on the wave of success of last years event we are moving forward with an exciting days activities centred around a day of fun sporting activities ranging from lawn tennis through soccer and volleyball to more exciting activities, notable among them Wheelchair Basketball on the Multi Use Games Arena. Pride Sports will be hosting children's races at about 3pm
Throughout the day we'll have a bar and some of London's finest Street food on Sale
Also the TeahouseTheartre will be serving their wonderful selection of cakes and tea throughout the day, picnic hampers can be ordered in advance by email from harry@theteahouse.co.uk
From the mid afternoon we also have some activities for the not so sporting...
2pm to 5pm The Cactus Club will be hosting Line Dancing on the Disco Stage.
1pm to 8pm The Pride Carnival Stage hosted in conjunction with UK Black Pride with Face Painting provided by our very own Andy Train
8pm Positive Voices will be closing the Carnival stage
3pm The Pride Doggy Walk and Celebrating 40 years of the London Lesbian & Gay Switchboardwith a Switchboard@40 Cake Bakeoff.
5pm to 9pm with Ain Bailey and Eduardo Gantous of The Pure Disco Foundation playing summer disco sounds on the Summer Rites Disco Stage...
Everyone planning on attending should be fully aware that The BIG Pride Picnic in the Park is a event primarily aimed at Families and Children first and foremost. Our own SIA security and the Police will be on site on the day, we operate A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY REGARDING ANY DRUNKENNESS AND ILLEGAL DRUGS , a condition of entry to the park, is that you may be searched AT ANY TIME, any one found Drunk, with Drugs or suspected of being under the influence of Drugs will automatically be ejected from the event and handed to the Police...
Anyone arriving with excessive amounts of alcohol may have it seized by the police! Anyone found selling alcohol or food other than from the authorized vendors will be subject to removal, please note you cannot BBQ in the park...
On the day advice includes making prior arrangements to meet at a precise place nearby at a specific time, as it's highly likely that mobile phone coverage will be at capacity with people social networking and suchlike... Please don't bring glass with you!