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BRISTOL PRIDE 2025: REVIEW

DOING LOTS WITH LITTLE: A FREE PARTY THAT GOT EVERYTHING RIGHT

16th July 2025

Bristol Pride 2025 came in a series of waves for us this year. The pilgrimage from Castle Park to the Downs brought celebration and protest together with a colourful eruption, made even more intense by the incessant heat. Later that day within the hidden woods of Bristol, however, a free party unfolded that felt more purposeful, considered, and powerful than anyone could have anticipated.

During the day, legends like Kim Wilde and Cascada brought 2000s nostalgia, while the strong programming showcased local talent old and new. This fuelled an electric crowd full of sing-alongs, and all for the price of a small donation fee to enter. If you didn't make it over the weekend and would like to donate, you can here.

Once the sun went down, however, something less expected took shape. Late after the main event, a free party unfolded that felt more purposeful, considered, and powerful than anyone, including myself, could have anticipated. In all honesty, after a few years hiatus from going to free parties for various reasons, this has completely altered my perspective of what a free party can be.

The Power of Doing Lots with Little:

There’s a commonly reductive argument that presents free parties as thrown together, chaotic, risky, and sometimes dangerous affairs. But, what happened over Pride weekend was completely the opposite.

All independent and with no major budget or sponsors, the crew behind the event pulled together something genuinely special. In fact, it was the lack of resources – whether that’s the scarcity of space, money, materials, or more – gave the party a pulse many had never felt before at a free party.

In terms of layout, the party was made up of multiple stages, immersive audio visuals, clear signage, a calm chill-out area, and even a visible, accessible welfare team – all built in the woods with minimal infrastructure.

A Festival Spirit, Rooted in Care:

Getting there also came with its own charm. From sitting prostrate, sweltering in a top floor flat after a day in the sun, unsure on whether to commit to going, we suddenly found ourselves in near-total darkness down old dusty woodland paths. Moving towards the noise like a moth to a flame, our group expanded in numbers as we picked up stragglers along the way.

Once we arrived, it didn’t really feel like being at a free party at all – more like a mini-festival. Despite being one of the hottest weekends of the year, things felt calm, held, and remarkably safe. With water and welfare and people looking out for one another, safety was clearly prioritised. Fun could then thrive without any anxiety if people were well and good. This felt very unique, and not just in comparison to commercial nightlife, but even among DIY events.

Credit - Elliot Hingston

Creativity, Protest and Party as One:

There’s something inherently political about claiming space and transforming it for a short amount of time, before returning it to its natural state. Many of the banners only became visible as the sun came up in the early hours of the Sunday, revealing messages of protest, love, and resistance to those who stayed to witness the full arc of the night.

Something I also love about free parties is going through waves of musical and spatial changes throughout the night. From jungle to techno to surprise vocal sets, the music kept you on your toes – each shift flowing naturally, from pitch-black dancing to golden dawn, matching the emotional ride.

This Is Why We Keep Doing It:

At a time when even grassroots festivals are struggling under the pressure of costs, logistics, and licensing, this party reminds us of why the DIY scene matters so much.

When you're not relying on big money, you’re forced to get improvise and creative. There’s not always an easy option, so you build something meaningful instead, and with a story of its own. In doing so, you create a space people genuinely feel part of, which is what we felt over the weekend.

Credit -Elliot Hingston

Support What Matters:

Parties like this don’t just appear out of thin air. They take weeks of planning, days of setup, and hours of invisible labour behind the scenes. This energy comes from people doing it for the love of the thing. Due to the nature of people doing what they love, sometimes money falls to the wayside, and any support is greatly appreciated in protecting such an important scene.

To support the crew who made the party happen, please consider donating here.

And don’t forget to donate to support future free parties.

All Image Credits are the wonderful Elliot Hingston.

Sometimes the most limited conditions give rise to the most memorable experiences.

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