Manchester Pride (Mardi Gras) 2009

Manchester Pride (Mardi Gras) 2009 parade through the streets of Manchester. THOUSANDS of people turned out for Manchester's outrageous and exotic Pride Parade.

Bigger and better than ever, this year's colourful procession numbered well over 70 floats representing businesses, organisations and community groups as diverse as Age Concern, Manchester Prairie Dogs Line Dance Club, and Sparkle, the International Transgender Celebration, which was supporting the event with the 'biggest gay bus in the world'.

The parade moved off from Liverpool Road, Castlefield at 1pm, and wound its way through the heart of the city centre via Deansgate, St Anne Street, Cross Street, Princess Street and Whitworth Street into the Gay Village