The Sparkle Weekend
Friday 7th - Sunday 9th July 2023
The Sparkle Weekend Guide
Download The Sparkle Weekend Guide for the full program of weekend activities, headliners, fringe events, community content, promotions and much more!
By download it to your phone, you have the weekend program in your pocket!
The Sparkle Weekend 2023
The Sparkle Weekend is the world’s largest free-to-attend celebration of gender diversity, and a safe space for anyone who identifies as gender non-conforming, their families, friends, and allies. In 2019, we welcomed more than 22,000 visitors over the weekend.
The Sparkle Weekend is a festival-style family event, featuring live music and entertainment, talks and workshops, and an opportunity for our corporate sponsors, grassroots charities, and trans-run businesses to engage with our visitors.
We also work with local and national charities who support young trans and gender questioning people and their families so that all age groups feel included.
One of the charity’s core values is that the event remains free-to-attend in order to be accessible to everyone, regardless of gender identity, race, religion, or physical ability.
The Sparkle Weekend currently costs tens-of-thousands of pounds to deliver and is currently funded by companies who share the charity’s values of equality and inclusion for all gender non-conforming individuals, and visitor donations. Sponsorship and donations mean that the Charity can also include smaller grassroots groups who support sub-sectional minorities in the event.
WHAT OUR VISITORS SAY ABOUT THE SPARKLE WEEKEND
“Sparkle is my family, it’s like a reunion with your favourite friends, your community, and it's the highlight of my year!”
“Wow! What can I say? It was just so full of diversity and community spirit. We are looking forward to our next Sparkle Weekend!”
"Sparkle is my family, its like a reunion with your favourite friends, your community and it's the highlight of my year. It's a space that i feel able to be myself and surround myself with people who I have a deep connection with."
Claire from Portsmouth
The Sparkle Charity
'The Worlds Largest Free to Attend Celebration of Gender Diversity'
WE ORGANISE the annual Sparkle Weekend, the world’s largest free-to-attend celebration of gender diversity, held in Sackville Gardens at the heart of Manchester’s Gay Village
WE PROMOTE a positive representation, awareness and acceptance of the Trans, Non-Binary/Genderfluid and Intersex community through our events, communications, advocacy and arts projects
WE PROVIDE advice, training and support to businesses, not-for-profit organisations, and the public sector
WE ARE entirely volunteer-led, and one of our core values to is that our events remain free-to-attend and accessible to everyone
Fighting Against Inequality & Discrimination
Raising Funds for The National Trans Memorial in Sackville Gardens
Providing Platforms for Gender Diverse Talent & Uplifting Trans Voices
"To find a place where I can simply belong, is refreshing and wonderful. Long may Sparkle Weekend live!"