On Saturday 4th September 2010, many thousands of people came together at Coopers Field, Cardiff, to celebrate diversity and work to combat hate crime at the 2010 Cardiff Wales Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Mardi Gras event, donating over £5000 to help cover production costs and keep the Mardi Gras free.
The day featured a full line-up of performers, including Lloyd Daniels, Sean Rumsey and Same Difference, as well as Adam Rickett and Starman, featuring lead singer Andrew Stone from TV’s Pineapple Dance Studios, on both the main stage and Admiral Cabaret Garden, as well as top DJs providing the music in the dance tent.
For the first time in the days running up to the main event a series of festival events, hosted by Chapter Arts Centre, which included the Iris Prize Festival Launch and Gary Coyle’s solo performance ‘At Sea’.
2010 also saw the introduction of a health and wellbeing zone and a youth zone, both of which were very well received. As usual there were also market stalls, bars, catering and a fairground. The event took place in a fenced-off area for the first time, with no alcohol allowed to be brought onto the site. This was a measure taken to ensure the security and safety of all attendees and to bring Mardi Gras in line with other large-scale events held at the site.
Richard Newtown, Chairman of the Cardiff Mardi Gras Committee, said, ‘Many are calling Cardiff Wales LGBT Mardi Gras 2010 the best ever, and that is a great tribute to all of the volunteers and performers who gave their time for free. It was great to see new aspects of this year’s event including the festival and the youth and health zones in Coopers Field being so well received – and we look forward to an even bigger event in 2011’.
Preparations are now underway for the 2011 Cardiff Mardi Gras event, with the date yet to be confirmed.
