The 2008 Pride season kicks off in Blackpool with a two day extravaganza on Saturday 17 May and Sunday 18 May featuring a concert headlined by Pete Burns, dance events hosted by Federation and Resurrection, a dog show and a Mr Pride Bear competition to find the hunkiest Bear of the year!

We just had to find out more about this mammoth way to start the year's Pride celebrations, so we asked Mark Seargent, the chairman of Blackpool Pride, to tell us all about it.

What can we expect at this year’s celebrations?
This year we have followed, very much, the same line as last year but we were able to identify things that maybe could be improved. It's a traditional Pride event with a fabulous and colourful Parade to kick it off. Where better in the country for such a parade but the famous Golden Mile? It will be closed off for the 12pm Procession. We have around 30 groups involved this year, so it is getting better year on year.

After a celebrity Opening Ceremony on the Promenade at 1pm - with loads of guests taking part on the Radio Wave stage - we move onto the North Pier for a day of celebration. We have Federation on the Pier playing in the Dance Arena and a superb Main Stage show with a whole host of celebrity and local artists. Pete Burns headlines what we expect to be a fantastic show. Don't forget the Pampered Pooches dog show on the Promenade either!
 
The Sunday starts off at 11.45am on the Pier with a short service of reflection to give people the opportunity to remember loved ones and, perhaps, acknowledge the true reasoning behind these worthwhile events.
 
The rest of the afternoon is taken over by the Blackpool DJs lead by Ross Alexander and Ressurection. We have representation from all the gay venues and additionally we have a Bears Competition and a grand raffle.
 
The Sunday evening is time to put the posh frocks on as we are staging Being Alive 10 years on. Which, following on from the first in 1998, is a marvelous All Star Gala Performance with profits going to Terence Higgins Trust and the Theatrical Guild. This show of the year is hosted by Christopher Biggins and stars Sue Pollard, Patti Boulaye, Claire Sweeney and a whole host of performers. Conceived and directed by theatre's finest, Dougie Squires and Richard Caswell, it's one not to miss and brings Pride to a poignant close.
 
Is there anything you’re particularly looking forward to?
The Opening Ceremony looks great and I am waiting for confirmation from Coleen Nolan to join us. Funny Girls own DJ Zoe will lead proceedings with Stella Artois, Mr Gay UK and many others.
 
And anything you’re not?
The only thing that worries me is the wretched weather!! We have not had the best weather either of our first two events, so I'm crossing everything for third time lucky!!
 
What does Pride mean to you and why is it important to celebrate Gay Pride?
Pride for me is an opportunity for self expression that many of us don't freely have, even today in what is deemed a more liberal and forward thinking society. It is also a time when, through the fun, friendship and coming together, we can all reflect on the suffering that many LGBT people still endure throughout the world. Hopefully in the process we can educate some our own straight communities that LGBT people are not to be feared and that we are normal people who, as part of society, should not be victimised. Coincidently, the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) falls on our Pride Saturday and what better way to promote the message behind it?
 
How many people are you expecting this year?
It is so difficult to say, really. This is just our third event and we haven't reached a figure yet that levels out our expectation. We look to other events such as Manchester and London and hope that we can, over a period of years, head in the direction of those sorts of attendances. I think we would be more than happy to see 10,000 people this year, which represents a manageable increase from last year.
 
Tell us about the gay scene in Blackpool.
There is something for everyone!  We have several cabaret bars with top drag and vocal entertainment. We have more modern bars and bars for girls and for the boys and, of course, we have the fantastic Funny Girls and Flamingo complex which mixes superb shows with the very finest superclub experience.
 
There’s a lot of glitter, sequins and drag queens involved with Pride; should we all be dressing up for the big event?
It's about self expression, which is what I mentioned earlier. Wear what you feel represents you and what makes you happy. Sure, high camp and colour is fab on the eye but we want to reflect every part of our rich and diverse community.
 
Have you thought about what you’ll be wearing yet?
Unfortunately, at the lead end, it's dress for practicality! But I think it will be top hat and tails for the Being Alive show which closes what we hope to be a superb and memorable weekend!
 
What else would you like to say?
I would just like to close by inviting everyone to join us this Saturday. We have worked tirelessly to stage this fantastic weekend. Blackpool, at this crucial time, needs the support of the whole country to help it on it's way to becoming, once again, one of the finest and all embracing resorts in Europe.

Go to www.prideblackpool.com for all the updates and details on accommodation providers and wristband sales.

Blackpool Pride: Saturday 17 May - Sunday 18 May 2008
North Pier and Prom
www.prideblackpool.com

Get in the mood for Pride buy buying the Best of Gay Pride Anthems CD! Get it online and save some money to put towards the I Can't Even Drive Straight: A Gay Pride Bumper Sticker, Postcard Book.