DURSLEY Pride is just under two weeks away and this year’s event is set to be bigger and better than ever.
The event is returning on Saturday, September 23 following a successful debut last year.
The parade will kick off at the Rednock School car park at 12.30pm before heading down Kingshill Road through Parsonage Street stopping at the Chantry Centre.
Crowds will be led by a rainbow-coloured fire engine plus officers from Gloucestershire Police and Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service.
This will be followed by a multicoloured trailer with speakers blasting gay anthems and organiser Tyler White holding a banner with two students from Rednock School.
An after event will then follow at the Chantry Centre from 1pm to 5pm.
There will be various different stalls as well as a BBQ, pizza oven and ice-cream.
Throughout the afternoon, there will also be entertainment including from the rock group Bohemian Bar Thieves, comedy acts, a local dance group, a disco and seven different drag artists.
A kidzone will also have a doodle wall, face painting and glitter tattoos.
Meanwhile, there will be outdoor music and traditional games in the garden and a sensory room.
Organiser Tyler White said: “Last year was amazing, we had an overwhelming response last year.
“The fact that Dursley accepted it so well was amazing to see. After pride everyone came up to me with their own ideas.
“We came from a couple of us organising with some ideas to this big event.
“This year, I’ve had a lot of people asking how they get help.
“We’ve got some new committee members so we’ve got new input and new ideas.
“We’re hoping to keep the event coming every year and make Dursley Pride bigger and bigger.
“I’m just hoping this year will be as big as last year.
“We’re putting up posters anywhere and everywhere there’s space in Dursley, Cam, Wotton and Stroud."
For the first time, attendees will have the option of wearing a sticker made by organisers to avoid being photographed and potentially outed during the event.
Tyler added: “We’re trying to be more inclusive. So if people aren’t out to their families we can give them a sticker so they won’t be filmed.
“It’s not a usual thing for pride but an idea we had while organising Dragley.”
After the event unofficial after gatherings are due to take place at the Old Spot and Spring Villa.
Last month, a group of drag artists performed at Stonehouse Community Association to help support this year’s event and raised more than £250.
There are vacancies for the Dursley Pride committee for next year's event.
For more information email - Hello@dursleypride.co.uk
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