One of England’s oldest castles is set to be wrapped in a 150-metre Pride flag as part of a four-day celebration of LGBTQ+ arts, culture and community in Totnes.
Totnes Castle, which dates back to the 11th century, will provide the backdrop for one of the centrepiece events of Totnes Pride 2026 when the festival takes place in September.
The event, called ‘Capture the Castle’, will see a 150-metre Pride flag unfurled around the castle by 20 flag bearers made up of members and leaders of the local LGBTQ+ community.
It will take place between 10am and noon on Saturday 26 September and will be free to attend.
Organisers are inviting members of the LGBTQ+ community, allies and visitors to bring flags, posters and picnics and gather in the castle grounds for the event.
Rather than holding a traditional Pride march through the town, organisers say they wanted to create something distinctive for Totnes.
A Totnes Pride 2026 spokesperson said: “Capture the Castle brings the whole community together for a unique moment that’s about visibility, a history of resilience and joy – in equal measure.
“Seeing the flag go up around the castle ramparts is the image that will define this year’s festival and establish Totnes Pride as the go-to Pride festival for queer arts and culture lovers.”
Capture the Castle forms part of a much larger programme, with more than 40 events planned across 15 venues during the four-day festival.
This year’s theme is ‘Queer Joy’, with events ranging from live music and cinema to exhibitions, workshops, parties and activities for young people and families.
Among the events planned is ‘Hark’, a live music concert at St Mary’s Church featuring Douglas Dare, Ruth Sutherland and Fionn Cox Davies.
Totnes Cinema will host a weekend of LGBTQ+ films, while a four-day Queer Joy-themed art exhibition will showcase work by artists from Totnes and across South Devon.
Younger people will be catered for with an under-25s Youth Pride party at the Jamming Station.
The Big Queer Joy Party will bring together GLOW, Dons of Disco and Lower the Tone for an evening of music and dancing at the Barrel House Ballroom.
Elsewhere, literature, poetry and art workshops will take place at venues including East Gate Bookshop and The Mansion, while Dartington’s Cider Press Centre will host a Queer Makers Market.
There will also be a range of free, family-friendly events at venues around the town.
Totnes Pride was previously described by organisers as the country’s largest rural Pride event. Following a three-year hiatus, it has been revived as a volunteer-run, community-led festival, with organisers hoping it will once again become an annual fixture in the town’s calendar.
Organisers said: “Totnes has always been a progressive centre for arts and culture; certainly now more than ever.
“With a successful new annual summer Fringe festival and Totnes Pride spotlighting and sharing queer arts and lives – Totnes is truly undergoing a community-built renaissance.”
The festival is being supported through community donations, with Totnes Town Council and Block and Tackle named as headline sponsors alongside support from local businesses.
Many of the events across the four days will be free or low-cost and organisers say the programme is open to both the LGBTQ+ community and the wider public.
More information and the full programme can be found on the Totnes Pride website
Free registration to attend Capture the Castle is now open! Spaces are capped so be quick! REGISTER HERE: https://buytickets.at/totnespride/2364504
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