This is where Sparkle really starts and is the perfect place to arrange to meet up with friends and plan your weekend ahead. If you're new to the scene or new to Manchester then this is where to make some new friends and talk to the friendly locals who will help you plan your weekend and
direct you to the various events.

Full details of all the weekends activities will be available and you can collect your own copy of The 2010 Sparkle Guide from the Sparkle Information Point - run for us by TransForum and Unique.

Meeting point for T-girl first timers ... Anyone who is at Sparkle for the first time, on their own or nervous about being out dressed, is welcome to come along to The Rembrandt in male mode during the afternoon.

Emma Lovelace (who is at Sparkle for the fifth time) and her wife Lesley have kindly agreed to host a get-together for new girls. If you want to find others in the same position as you or someone to walk into the Village with later in the evening, or simply want someone to help with those first-time nerves - then this is you point of contact.

Emma is pictured left so you know who to look for. Or ask the girls on the Sparkle info stand to point you in Emma and Lesley's direction. Between 3.00 and 5.00 pm They can usually be found in the street just outside the door.

This is the Sparkle launch party, to be held in the upstairs bar at AXM.

It's the perfect early evening start to the weekend and a great chance to meet old friends and make new ones. The venue is ideal for relaxed chat before heading into the Village for some serious clubbing and a great point to meet up later before heading home.

Meet the Sparkle organisers and sponsors plus the Tranny Of The Year girls as they are presented with their event sashes. There will also be a free Sparkle photo service with lots of great quality photos free for you to download after the weekend.

See map, location 14.

From 8pm - 12pm. A Special Chinese Banquet, with entertainment, Karaoke and Disco, is being held at the Shang Hi Restaurant, Whitworth Street.
We especially invite those NEW to Sparkle, on their own, from overseas or out for the first time. Join us as we help you make new friends to share the weekend with, and become part of the fantastic party that is Sparkle 2010.
During the meal Debbie will be our compare and following which, she will be running our Disco. We will also have several Karaoke sessions running in parallel in different karaoke studios.

The event will take over the restaurant and function rooms from 7:30 pm and so is particularly suitable for those not used to being out in public or dressing for the first time. It is also accessible to Wheelchair users and caters for vegetarians. The Shang Hi Restaurant is on Whitworth Street, just outside the Gay Village.
See map location 12.

The cost is £16 per person and bookings should be made with the organiser, Jenny-Anne Bishop by e-mail or phone 07500-741955.

This event is being organised by TransForum Manchester and Unique TG Network especially for Sparkle.

Please see MENU

For a complete list of all stalls and stands attending go to Sparkle in the Park page

We are very pleased to welcome Penny to Sparkle for the first time as last-minute replacement for Chelsea Darling.

The lovely Gloria is also back at Sparkle this year, a professional performing musician for many years, she is a brilliant guitarist and a great perfprmer.

Sparkle 2010 welcomes back Debbie Roberts, replacing Samantha Eames who was sadly unwell and can not attend.

We are very pleased to Have Joey return to Sparkle again after his previous 2006 performance - his unique style of entertainment helps create a real variety show at this years weekend.

A fun fashion show brought to you by the staff and girls from Trans-pose in Cheshire. Bridal, fairytale, retro and fun - come and see the girls strut their stuff on the Catwalk!

The only non-TG performer at Sparkle this year. Regularly gigging around the North West she has a wealth of experience for someone so young and this will be a performance you don't want to miss! Web site: http://www.januarysings.com

Stand-up Comedienne, Shelly Cooper and her one woman show.

Marianne Greye, Lead vocals and Guitar - Roxy Rose Drums and Backing Vocals and
Didi Bee Bass Guitar are three musicians who came together at St Audries Bay Trans week to enter the talent show. They try to offer an alternative to basic Rock & Roll, playing a mixture of Popular Rock and Pop tunes like "The Summer of 69" to "Respect" (Erasure), covering a wide range to include a broad audience. "It's always about entertainment and audience participation, while playing music to stimulate us as musicians," say the band.

The competition to find the best all round tranny in the UK: the person that puts in that real effort to look as good as possible and is able to create that truly feminine persona. Full details and entry forms are HERE

All the way from London to support the Sparkle weekend, Miss Kimberley will be performing live on stage during the afternoon and then acting as hostess at The Sparkle Ball in the evening. You can catch Miss K on her own Internet TV show 'The Powder Room' on QUOD TV.

Dress to impress for this brand new gala Sparkle celebration. Entertainment, food, prizes and lots of fun with an 'ab fab' 80s theme! Click HERE for more info and ticket sales.

The TVChixters are planning to help celebrate the anniversaries of Sparkle and the BNO, by getting together on the Saturday night. This will be from 9pm onwards in New York New York. Nothing formal, just a chance to socialise with your friends from Chix. No tickets etc, just pop in, say hi and have a bop n booze. All Welcome!

New Legal Rights

Stephen will discuss the new legal rights under the Equality Bill coming into effect in 2010, particularly as they effect TV/CDs.

Feminism, Its Relationship To Transgender And What Happened To It

“Maddona wrote for her song 'What it feels like for a girl' - "its ok for a girl to be a boy but for a boy to look like a girl is degrading" these words say more about feminism and equality in 2010 than ever it says about cross-dressing and transgender. Discuss!”

Transgender Children: Extreme Social Exclusion

Natacha examines evidence from her own research, of the way transgender children suffer from such severe social exclusion during childhood that it affects their lives and prospects well into adulthood. Categorising transgender children as "apparent" and "non-apparent" her findings strongly suggest not only that transgender children are much more common than most people are led to believe but that there is a substantial degree of shared experience which can result in feelings of guilt, self-hatred, low self esteem and result in their underachievement in education as well as problems when they are older. She suggests simple ways in which schools can begin to cater for these children

Domestic Abuse and Trans People

In June 2009 Spectrum London, along with Broken Rainbow, the UK's national LGBT Domestic Abuse charity undertook a 3 month UK wide Online survey to visit the uncomfortable subject of Domestic Abuse and how it affected those that are transgendered. Denise will be presenting some of the figures and feedback that has come out of that survey focussing in on some main areas and presenting examples of the kind of incidents shared by the transgendered people that took the survey.

Lee, a member of Manchester Concord, is an artist, a writer and an academic and from late 2007 began intensively creating CD/DVD art pieces.Exhibitions at the Touchstones art gallery in Rochdale, The Royal Exchange Theatre's art gallery in Manchester and at On The Eighth Day in Manchester have shown Lee's rapidly developing, inventive artistic techniques, using CDs/DVDs in unusual ways.

For Sparkle, Lee, as well as displaying previous work, will be inviting visitors to help create a new work – A picture of Audrey Hepburn – by adding their own CD/DVD fragment to the picture. This will be completed on the day and kindly donated by Lee and auctioned at the Sparkle Ball on Saturday night for Sparkle funds.

Lisa and Zara from Transfixed will be on hand to discuss and assist visitors with help and advice regards wigs, make-up and other beauty matters.

Everyone is invited to this lovely restaurant on Canal Street for a fixed price Sunday lunch, £9.95 per head plus service charge and drinks. See NEW Menu . (This will be our fifth year for Sparkle and the management are looking forward to welcoming us back.) It's the perfect place to catch up with friends before you head for home. See map, location 13.

Book with Nicki B and send your menu choices please!

Wilbraham St Ninian's United Reformed Church, Wilbraham Road / Egerton Rd South, Chorlton , Manchester M21 0XJ ( Sat. Nav M21 0UB )

Metropolitan Community (LBGT) Church, Manchester (MCCM) is delighted to invite all participants in the Sparkle celebrations to worship with us from 4:30pm, when our service will be led by our Transgender members. The Service will be followed by refreshments.
e-mail Jenny-Anne Bishop for more info or talk to Jenny-Anne and Elen on the Sparkle info stand at Sparkle. See here for directions to the Church.

This event is organised by MCCM

A Special Indian meal at a top class restaurant has been booked for 6:30pm.
All attending Sparkle are invited to Join us at the well known Sangam Indian
Restaurant, 9-19 Wilmslow Road, Rusholme, M14 5TB. Map and Details.

This is a restaurant well known to the local Trans community and is particularly suitable for those not used to being out in public. It is also accessible to Wheelchair users and will cater for vegetarians. It is one of the best budget Indian restaurants in Manchester and is very Trans-friendly, regularly being used for our Trans group meals.

Cost is very reasonable at £ 13-16 per person (Including a small tip for the restaurant), depending on what you eat and your consumption of Alcohol. Please order and pay for your own drinks.

Please book direct with the organiser, Jenny-Anne Bishop by e-mail or phone: 07500-741955. Or contact her on the Sparkle information stand.

This event is being organised by TransForum Manchester and Unique TG Network especially for Sparkle.

OVER THE RAINBOW - LGBT Manchester Guided Walk

Journey through the entertaining yet turbulent history of Manchester's LBGT community. The walk covers past and current LBGT venues, the bars, pubs, clubs and shops that shaped the community's history in the city. You will also visit historic locations and hear about important people and events, including Mardi Gras, Pride, Alan Turing and of course The Gay Village.

Over the Rainbow is led by gay, professionally qualified Manchester Green Badge Tour Guides.

Starts 2.30pm outside the New Union on Canal Street. Costs £6. Book to ensure your place by emailing sibby@tourguidemanchester.com