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The sun shone for EuroPride and boy did they come. Over the years, Pride events in London have struggled with in-fighting, expensive park events and a lack of direction, but this year the team finally got it together to produce a truly international event that did everyone proud.

EuroPride Parade
For the first time ever, the Parade (which marked the end of a two week festival of lesbian and gay culture) turned Oxford Street into a carnival cavalcade of campness which attracted an incredible 40,000 people, according to a Scotland Yard spokesperson.

As well as the huge rainbow flag and floats representing different groups and societies in the gay community, the highlight this year was seeing 40 Royal Navy personnel parading in their uniforms for the very first time on the march.

The spectacle travelled along Oxford Street and Regent Street and then on to Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square, finishing at Victoria Embankment.

The EuroPride Parade was led my Ken Livingstone, who said: "What this shows as we march through the city of London - one of the greatest cities on earth - is a city can be a wonderful place to live in with people of every race, religion and sexuality."

Trafalgar Square Rally
Trafalgar Square then hosted a packed political rally, featuring speeches and entertainment from the main stage and stalls promoting various gay organisations. With the sun beating down, several people were also seen jumping in the fountains, adding to the general carnival atmosphere.

Leicester Square Cabaret
Leicester Square was home to the Virgin Mobile Cabaret Stage, with the central garden area packed throughout the day and early evening. While most football fans were in for a disappointing time, the entertainment certainly wasn’t a letdown.

The final of Drag Idol proved a real hit, although the highlight of the day had to be the Boy George Experience and Sandra, whose antics and language certainly won’t have won her any favours with Westminster Council!

Soho Fun
For the first time on a Pride weekend the whole of Soho was pedestrainised and, thanks to the incredible weather, there was a serious amount of tops-off action for us all ogle. The sound stage in Soho Square proved popular as did the gardens, which looked like the Kylie video for ‘Slow’.

An estimated 60,000 people turned up for the events and we’re pretty sure we rubbed shoulders with most of them, as we made our way down a packed Old Compton Street.

After Dark Entertainment
The official activities ended at 8pm, when it was time to make a decision about the stellar array of club nights on offer. Ruby in Kings Cross was again the hot ticket, although for those of a more alternative bent, Euroshame at the Coronet in Elephant And Castle was the only place to be.

From the left-of-centre team at Duckie, partygoers were given Euros to spend at a variety of wacky stalls around the venue. Meanwhile, on stage, Amy Lame and the Readers Wifes provided the soundtrack and welcomed an impressive array of performance artists. We have to say our highlight was the talented hoop guy though!

EuroPride: The Show
Once we had our hangover in check the following day, it was time to get spruced up and head over to the Royal Albert Hall for EuroPride: The Show.

Programmed by Sir Ian McKellan, the night had to be the gayest show on earth. The team from GaydarRadio, who had also sponsored the event,  made sure everyone had a special fan to keep them cool, until the fun finally started a little later than planned - can gay people never start anything on time!? Although who can complain with a whopping four hours of entertainment! Highlights, and there were so many, included the wonderful presenters Stephen Fry, Julian Clary and Sandi Toksvig, as well as performances from the casts of Avenue Q, Mamma Mia! and Chicago.

The ballet routine from Betty Legs Diamond and her dancers was hysterical, as was the country and western routine from the brilliant Tina C. Sir Ian as Widow Twanky went down a storm, while comedian Alan Carr proved what a star he has become over the last year or so.

We could have done without some many of the lesbian power ballads from Never The Bride (one or two would have been spot on) and a frankly dull surprise performance from Boy George, but musically we were in for some treats. Heather Small had the whole of the audience on their feet dancing, while the accompaniment by the London Gay Men’s Chorus was both emotional and breathtaking.

Of course, the highlight of the night was a certain Mr Elton John. He was welcomed to the stage by his partner, David, and Billy Jean King and his three song set left the audience wanting more. It was great to see him duetting with Kiki Dee on ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ 30 year to the day it was released.

To end, the entire whole cast sang ‘We Are Family’, which proved an amazing way to finish the evening and indeed the weekend!

Well done to the team at Pride London, you’ve got a tough time to top things next year!

Check out our EuroPride06 Gallery

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