Community is at the heart of everything Manchester Pride does. The Candlelit Vigil is the culmination of Manchester Pride, and each year it closes the four days of the festival with a moment of reflection in Sackville Gardens. The home of Alan Turing, The National Transgender Memorial and the Beacon of Hope, the gardens are transformed into a sea of flickering candles as the celebration calms and comes to end.
At the Candlelit Vigil we take a minute to remember those we have lost to HIV/AIDS as LGBTQ+ people join together to fight the epidemic worldwide, and the stigma that still exists. The Candlelit Vigil also provides a space to remember those who are suffering and those who are persecuted, presenting an opportunity to stand together in a united front as we recognise the many challenges that are still faced by LGBTQ+ communities, both here in the UK and around the world.
The Candlelit Vigil is completely free to attend.
Take a look back at the beautiful Candlelit Vigil that concluded the 2021 Manchester Pride Festival:
