Gloucestershire Pride: Thousands turn up in the heat to celebrate

Sophie Ladd & Dawn LimbuBBC News
News imageBBC A gay Pride paradeBBC
Around 4,000 revellers attended Gloucester Pride, with an estimated 2,000 people in the parade

Thousands of people have turned out in the sunshine to celebrate Gloucestershire's annual Pride event.

The day kicked off at 11:15 BST as a parade stared wending its way through Gloucester city centre.

Throughout the day, more revellers gathered for the Pride festival at Gloucester Park, with three stages of live entertainment.

The official Pride after-party kicks off at 20:00 at the Jax nightclub.

News imagePeople parading through Gloucester City Centre

Aside from the parade, there were many stalls, from small businesses and organisations around the county, from Spirax Sarco to Young Gloucestershire to Stagecoach.

News imageA colourful Pride march through the town centre
News imageA photo of a dancer\

Gloucester MP Richard Graham made a speech before the parade departed from Gloucester Cathedral, and there was also presence from the city's Anglican church community.

News imageA group of people photographed in the street

There were also food stalls, bars, music and karaoke as well as fairground rides at Gloucester Park.

News imageA man wearing a rainbow t-shirt and wig
News imageA photo of a woman wearing red clothes
News imageA person posing wearing a purple sparkly outfit

Richard Stevens, chairperson of Pride in Gloucestershire, says it is an event for everyone, and he welcomed those people attending the the Tour of Britain cycle race to join the festivities.

"We've got a major national cycling race taking place on the same day.

"That comes through at 15:30 and we're here until 20:00, so we're expecting people to come on up to the park after the race."

News imageColourful Confetti in the air

Mr Stevens says Gloucester Pride is in the process of bidding for the city to host the next Europride - the European international Pride event.

News imagePresentational grey line

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