Celebrate community and colour as Totnes Pride returns with Capture the Castle , a free, volunteer-led weekend of music, film, art and a 150-metre Pride flag wrapped around Totnes Castle to mark resilience, visibility and queer culture in south Devon.

Essential takeaways

  • Big visual: A 150-metre Pride flag will be unfurled around Totnes Castle, carried by 20 local flag bearers for Capture the Castle.
  • When and where: Community gathering at the castle grounds, 10am–noon on Saturday 26 September; free to attend with limited free registration.
  • Festival scale: Totnes Pride runs across four days with 40+ events in 15 venues, from concerts and cinema to family-friendly activities.
  • Volunteer-led and affordable: The festival is community-run, supported by sponsors and donations, with many events free or low-cost.
  • Creative focus: Programme highlights include live music at St Mary’s Church, queer film screenings, art exhibitions and youth events.

A striking centrepiece for a rural Pride

It’s a show-stopper you can picture from a distance: a long, bright ribbon of a flag wrapping the stone of a hilltop castle. Totnes Castle, a fortress with roots in 1068, will be the stage for Capture the Castle, the flagship moment in Totnes Pride’s four-day return. The sensory pull is immediate , colour against old stone, a crowd gathered for a communal moment of joy.

Organisers say 20 flag bearers drawn from the local queer community will unfurl the 150-metre flag around the ramparts. That image , a modern banner draped around medieval battlements , is designed to signal visibility and continuity, and to make Totnes Pride a must-see for lovers of queer arts and culture.

How this comeback came together

Totnes Pride is back after a three-year pause, restored as a grassroots, volunteer-run festival. Local organisers have leaned on community donations, headline support from Totnes Town Council and Block and Tackle, and small business backing to make the programme possible. The result feels both ambitious and intimate: a big statement built on local goodwill.

According to the festival team, many events will be free or low-cost to keep access wide. Free registration for the Capture the Castle moment is open but limited, so early sign-up is advised if you want to be part of the circle.

What’s on , music, film, makers and more

If you like a mixed bill, Totnes Pride delivers. The programme pairs live music at St Mary’s Church , featuring names such as Douglas Dare, Ruth Sutherland and Fionn Cox Davies , with a weekend of queer films at Totnes Cinema. There’s a four-day “Queer Joy” art exhibition showcasing local and south Devon artists, plus workshops, readings and poetry in independent venues.

For families and younger attendees, there are under-25s events and free family-friendly activities across multiple sites. The Big Queer Joy Party gathers regional queer clubs for a club night with a celebratory feel, while Dartington’s Cider Press Centre hosts a Queer Makers Market for a quieter, tactile kind of browsing.

Practical tips for attending Capture the Castle

Bring a picnic, a flag or a poster if you want to be visible in the crowd; organisers encourage banners and allied presence. Arrive early for best views , the castle grounds will welcome people from 10am. Registration is free but limited, so book in advance to secure a place among the 20 flag bearers or as a spectator.

Wear comfortable shoes for uneven ground and something warm for the September breeze; bring water and a blanket for a relaxed picnic. If you're travelling from further afield, check the full programme online to plan which venues and events to prioritise across the four days.

Why Totnes Pride matters right now

This festival feels like more than an event. Locals describe Totnes as a long-standing cultural hub, and reviving Pride here is being framed as part of a community renaissance that includes a buzzing fringe festival and renewed arts activity. Totnes Pride’s “Queer Joy” theme puts celebration at its centre, while also nodding to visibility and historical resilience.

Expect a blend of activism and artistry, with plenty of moments designed to be photographed and remembered. If you care about queer arts, rural representation or simply a colourful weekend out, this is the kind of grassroots festival that reminds you why community events still matter.

It's a small change that can make every cheer and every flag feel like part of something bigger.

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