Everyone is welcome on Arran

The rain held off until everyone had safely gathered at Brodick Hall where information stalls had been set up and where most of the afternoon’s activity took place. North Ayrshire Provost, Anthea Dickson, welcomed everyone before entertainments began with performances by Miss Sasha Blaze, Arran Social Choir, Tim Pomeroy, Scott MacDonald, and Rainbow Ukuleles. Closing the afternoon was Fiddlesticks, a band of Arran High School musicians on fiddle and guitar.

Once everyone had enjoyed the music and mingled at the information stalls, people retired to prepare for the evening ceilidh, where they danced to music provided by Findlay Napier’s band, Non Specific Soup, under flags that declared ‘everyone is welcome here’.

Meanwhile, Arran Pride funded a dinner and quiz for 50 young people from North Ayrshire Youth Work at Arran Outdoor Education Centre, led by comedian and DJ, Coco Fabulicious, from Liverpool.

For those who still had energy on Sunday, the Douglas Hotel hosted a BBQ with music from Shindig Pladda.

Many people were full of praise for the event. Leap Sports’ Stuart Cooper brought a stall to Brodick Hall.

He said Arran Pride provides a great opportunity for him to engage with potential new service users, saying: “Arran is my favourite Pride because it is so community led. It is also less commercial than other Prides. It is very grass roots. It is very relaxed and the whole island feels like a safe place.”

Arran Pride has been a pioneer event, explained committee member, Kenny Leishman. It was the first to take place in Ayrshire, and other events are now seeking to follow the friendly format.

Kenny attributes a lot of Arran Pride’s success to it being a dry event, making it more accessible to everyone, and particularly to families. While he and Michael are involved in the committee there will never be any alcohol for sale, vendors on site, or commercial organisations trying to piggy back on the event, he says. It will purely be about “celebration and education”.

Laura MacIntyre, from Turning Point Scotland’s Ayshire branch in Stevenson, agreed about the positive feel to the day. She explained that while not specifically part of the LGBTQ+ community: “I felt so connected today. Everybody is so welcoming. I haven’t ever experienced anywhere that is so inclusive.”

A final tribute came from visitor, Derek Gilmour: “My good friend Xavier has been to Pride events all over the globe, and he says Arran is the best in the world.

“Arran is so beautiful and inclusive. It is lovely that children are welcome here.”

Arran Pride chair, Michael Gettins, said: “Thanks go to everyone who helped make Arran Pride 2026 the fun filled family success we hoped for.”