THOUSANDS of people are set to fill Southend with bright colours, flags and music as Pride takes over the city tomorrow. 

Southend Pride returns for its sixth annual event on Saturday to celebrate the LBGTQ+ community –kick-starting with a parade through the high street before a festival atmosphere fills Warriors Square. 

The event will feature a range of live music and entertainment, including a DJ set from special guest and RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Crystal.

Sam Adam, chair of Southend Pride, says she is “very excited” for the weekend and that the festival is crucial to help people feel “empowered.”

Exciting: Sam says the festival is Exciting: Sam says the festival is important to help people feel empowered. (Image: Gaz de Vere)

 

She said: “The parade and festival is so important, especially at this particular time as there has been a significant rise in hate crime, especially transphobic crime.

“I think this is all about community cohesion and visibility. 

“It’s a way to bring people together and fight against hate and make this a better place for everyone.

“To be able to walk up your own high street as yourself can be so empowering. I hope it can help people to carry that empowerment into their day to day lives. 

“I am very excited for the weekend. When you see the thousands of people at Pier Hill, it just warms your heart and shows that this is something that is really needed.

“We’re also going to have Crystal there which is such a big deal. It’s going to be an amazing fun family day for everyone.”

The festival attracts thousands of people, with approximately 6,000 expected this year, that take part in the pride parade before enjoying the main festival. 

This year’s parade will be starting at 11am at the top of pier hill and will go through the high street before arriving at Warriors Square Gardens at 12pm where the main festival is set to take place.

The festival was first held in 2018 and was attended by 2,000 people.