What a weekend. Two very different Sheffield events, back to back, and I had the best time at both.
Saturday: Kelham Pride
On Saturday I joined the parade at Kelham Pride — Sheffield’s wonderful, free celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. We wound through Kelham Island and Neepsend and over Ball Street Bridge, with a marching band, drag performers leading the way, and a sea of flags and colour all the way to the main stage on Burton Road.
Riding the giant unicycle above a crowd that joyful is hard to beat — so many smiles, so many photos, so much glorious noise. Kelham Pride only started a couple of years back and it already feels like a proper Sheffield institution. Thank you for having me.
Sunday: the Sheffield soapbox derby
The very next day I headed into town for the Sheffield Krazy Races soapbox derby at Barker’s Pool. Teams had built the most gloriously ridiculous gravity-powered karts and sent them hurtling down past the City Hall and onto Fargate, with thousands of people lining the route.
It was all in aid of Roundabout, the local charity supporting young people facing homelessness — a brilliant cause and a brilliant atmosphere. I was there on the unicycle keeping the crowd company between races. Creativity, daftness and a good heart: very Sheffield.
Two days, two crowds, one very happy unicyclist. Roll on the next one.
— William