A rainbow flag wrapped around Totnes Castle made for a striking opening to the town’s Pride festival, but also drew criticism from outside the local community. With more than 40 events across 15 venues, the volunteer-run celebration brought queer art, film and music into the heart of Totnes, while organisers defended the display as a bold public statement.
A castle becomes a canvas for Pride
Twenty-five local flag bearers helped drape a 150-foot Pride flag around Totnes Castle for the festival’s opening event, Capture the Castle. The bright sweep of colour against the historic stonework was designed to create a visible civic moment, organisers said, and to affirm that queer people have long been part of the town. [3], [7]
The temporary display launched a four-day programme with more than 40 events at 15 venues. The festival included art workshops, a youth Pride party, live music, a weekend of queer films at Totnes Cinema and a Queer Makers Market at Dartington’s Cider Press Centre. [4], [6]
Organisers say local response was positive
More than 400 people attended, according to organisers, who described the response from the town as overwhelmingly positive. They said they had received no complaints from attendees or residents, and suggested that much of the online criticism came from beyond Totnes. [2], [3]
That account became part of the story when Restore leader Rupert Lowe criticised the flag display on Facebook, calling it “wildly naff” and “generally vomit-inducing”. Totnes Pride responded by defending the event and its volunteers, while challenging claims in national coverage that local residents had been furious. [2], [5]
A colourful event, and a wider argument
The debate shows how a local celebration can quickly become a national talking point. For organisers, the flag was an act of public art and a message of belonging; for critics, it became a symbol in a broader argument about Pride and public displays. [2], [5]
But the festival was more than one dramatic image. Its varied programme brought LGBTQ+ cinema, creative workshops and community events into familiar local spaces, giving people several ways to take part rather than making the castle display the whole story. [4], [7]
How Totnes Pride kept events accessible
Many activities were free or low-cost, supported by community donations, local sponsors and businesses. Totnes Town Council, Block and Tackle and The Bull Inn were among the headline sponsors, helping a volunteer-run programme reach beyond ticketed events. [4], [6]
That mix matters for a community festival: an open-air spectacle may catch the eye, but affordable events can help more people join in. Visitors planning a future Pride weekend can look out for the programme and venue details in advance, especially if they want to fit film screenings, family-friendly activities or the market into one visit. [4], [6]
Pride returns after a three-year break
Totnes Pride returned after a three-year hiatus, and local MP Caroline Voaden praised the festival’s scale and variety. She also said it could support the local economy and reinforce Totnes’s reputation for progressive arts and culture. [3], [7]
Organisers have already set themselves a playful challenge: how to top a 150-foot flag next year. Whatever comes next, the event has shown that a single bold gesture can prompt disagreement, draw a crowd and open up a much bigger conversation about who gets to feel at home in a town. [2], [5]
A rainbow flag made a vivid start; the festival’s community spirit gave it staying power.
Source Reference Map
Story idea inspired by: [1]
Sources by paragraph: