Yorkshire Dales village famed for All Creatures Great and Small to hold its first ever LGBTQ+ Pride event

The area’s inaugural Pride in the Dales event this Saturday promises to be a fun-filled day with a parade, live performances and children’s activities, organisers say, offering an opportunity for people to come together to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community.

“We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment where everyone is able to express themselves and be accepted for who they are,” explains Joel Summerscales, chairperson of the Pride in the Dales Committee.

Joel has been at the fore of the organisation of the event – and his reasons for doing so are largely personal.

Whilst he hopes that Pride will create a bustle within the village, bringing with it a boost for local businesses, one of his key motivations for launching the event in the area was his own internal struggle with his sexuality.

“Growing up, from being 12-years-old I knew I was different,” he says. “I knew I was gay and identified with that but it was hard to come out and tell your family and friends. I was petrified of the thought. I didn’t think I’d ever do it.”

Joel was 29 before he “found the courage” to tell his parents and then his wider circle of family and friends.

“All that time I couldn’t come to terms with what other people might think. It’s a massive thing through your childhood, especially knowing there’s a stigma about sexuality and being gay. But my family and friends were so supportive.

“That’s a long time of not living your true life. If anybody else might be struggling, young or old – and not just gay, but bisexual, lesbian, transgender, if I can make it easier for one person, I feel like I’ll have done a good job.”

Joel says he was “worried” about how people would react to his news.

“But the response I received from family, friends, neighbours, and colleagues was absolutely amazing. It gave me the strength to be who I had always wanted to be."

In the years that have followed, the 36-year-old has attended Leeds Pride, a big city celebration of LGBTQ+ life.

He now hopes that vibrancy and inclusivity can be replicated in Grassington, where he works in the village’s hospitality sector.

In recent years, the area has been in the spotlight after being transformed into the fictional market town of Darrowby for All Creatures Great and Small.

The series is a new adaptation based upon the classic James Herriot books, following the adventures of a young country vet in Yorkshire.

Many Grassington businesses had their shopfronts transformed for the filming of the show, in a nod back to the late 1930s when the series is set.

This weekend, many of them will be decorated with bright colours instead, in honour of the rainbow flag that has come to symbolise LGBTQ+ Pride across the world.

Despite its small population of little over 1,000 people, community spirit is in abundance in Grassington.

A team of volunteers, aged between 24 and 57, came together to form a committee for the Pride event, whilst other villagers have backed fundraising efforts to bring it to fruition. Local businesses have also pledged their support.

Diving, Survey and Marine Contracting is among them. Managing director Charlie Bayston says DSMC didn’t hesitate in sponsoring Pride.

“The event will not only be really good fun for the whole village and anyone visiting, but we think that celebrating equality and diversity as a community has a much bigger message and impact than people often consciously realise. Things like this and the volunteers behind them make us proud to live where we do.”

"The overall message,” Charlie adds, “is equality, acceptance and people being allowed to celebrate who they are.”

Local schools have been involved with preparations for the event, creating banners and props for the first Grassington Pride parade.

Children will be taking part in the procession alongside businesses, representatives from North Yorkshire police and fire services, and various community organisations.

Bars and pubs around the village will host performers throughout Saturday afternoon, whilst face painting, book readings and games will take place in the village square.

Shops are also set to sell a selection of Pride merchandise to mark the event. An evening ‘Pride Party’ will then round off the day at Grassington Town Hall, with performances from drag queens.

Joel says: "Starting Pride in the Dales has been very close to my heart, and I'm so proud of what we've achieved so far.

"I'm surrounded by an amazing team of people who have all worked tirelessly to make this event happen, and I thank them all so much.

"I hope that by creating Pride in the Dales, we will encourage anyone who may be struggling on their own journey to know that it's okay to be themselves and embrace it. Grassington is a safe, friendly, and diverse village open to everyone."

Pride in the Dales, Grassington, takes place on Saturday, July 29, for the first time.

For more details, visit www.prideinthedales.co.uk