Basingstoke Pride

Basingstoke’s second Pride filled the town with colour, music and connection on 16 August 2025. It was wonderful to see so many people come together to celebrate and support each other, and we’re proud to share a little of what the day meant for our community.

The parade set off from Willow’s Coffee House and made its way through the town before arriving at the Amphitheatre for the Pride Fair. You could feel the energy all the way along the route, with local businesses, community groups and people from across Basingstoke walking together while crowds cheered them on.

At the fair, people enjoyed stalls from local organisations, live music and entertainment. A bright “lovetrain” of dancing swept around the Amphitheatre, and stilt walkers towered above the crowd, adding to the fun. It was lovely to see people of all ages taking part.

Basingstoke Pride shared how grateful they were for the support, saying the 2025 Pride and Parade was “a huge success”. Local leaders also joined the celebration, including MP for Basingstoke Luke Murphy and the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Cllr Colin Phillimore.

Mia Marks, co-director of Basingstoke Pride, summed up the spirit of the day beautifully: it’s about bringing people together, creating visibility and helping our community feel connected.

At Samaritans, we know that feeling part of a community can make a difference when life feels overwhelming. Events like Pride remind us how important it is to be there for each other, to listen and to offer space where everyone feels seen and supported.