The Folkestone Pride celebrations will return this weekend with a picnic and music along The Leas.

Forgoing the usual popular parade due to Covid-19, organisers are instead inviting people to dress up, pack some food, grab a blanket and celebrate community and diversity within the town with a picnic.

Live entertainment will be performed on the Bandstand, and the picnic - from 2pm to 5pm - will be hosted by Miss Di Vour.

And in the evening, venues across Folkestone will host Pride parties, with one taking place at the Waiting Room on the Harbour Arm and another at The Chambers.

Some tickets need to be booked in advance.

It will all happen tomorrow (Saturday) and will be themed 'Folkestone to New York'.

The choice for the theme follows the Ride and Stride fundraiser, an initiative by a collection of Folkestone Pride volunteers who have been raising money by biking, walking and running the 5,685.8km distance between Folkestone and New York, in less than three months.

Bean, chair of Folkestone Pride, said: ‘"This is a time to come together, celebrate and embrace diversity and inclusion in our town.

"Despite a difficult year of Covid restrictions that has limited our fundraising, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes and are very pleased to be hosting the Pride picnic.

"Following the enormous success of the last Folkestone Pride in 2019, we’re determined to once again make this a town-wide festival, and for everyone."

Pride is a worldwide event celebrating the LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community.

It was last held in Folkestone in 2019, attended by more than 1,000 people, but was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As well as organising the annual event, Folkestone Pride provides safe spaces for people to meet, socialise, and learn, and raises awareness of issues that face the community.

To donate to the Ride and Stride fundraiser, visit here.

For more information, visit folkestonepride.org/

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