Reading Pride 2021 returns on Saturday for the first time since being cancelled due to the pandemic.

Music stages, a parade and LGBT+ awareness projects will be brightening up the town under the theme ‘Love Unites’.

Here’s everything you need to know about the parade and festival at King’s Meadow.

The parade

Set to be a 'spectacle of noise and colour', organisers are asking people taking part to do what they can to bring the parade to life, such as colourful outfits, music, dance, trumpets, whistles or drums.

Anyone can join the parade, which will set off from Queens Walk at 11:15am, between Broad Street Mall & Pentahotel, before heading through Oxford Road heading towards Metro Bank.

Crossing at St Mary’s Butts, the parade will proceed through Broad Street and turn left into Market Place Square, following the road to The Forbury and Forbury Gardens.

At the exit of Forbury Gardens the parade will split into two to allow safe crossing of Forbury Road and meet on the other side to head under the railway line.

Turning right onto Kings Meadow Road, they will walk along the River Thames tow path to the Love Unites Festival entrance.

The festival

Non-stop live performances will take place across three stages in Kings Meadow.

The Main Stage offers audience members the chance to see local performers from the LGBT+ community.

The full lineup:

  • Danny Mellin: 12pm
  • Jamie Wake: 12.30pm
  • Francis LightningHeart: 12.35pm
  • El10 John: 1pm
  • Carter the Bandit: 1.30pm
  • Tina Sparkle: 1.50pm
  • Rock Choir: 2pm
  • Philip Baldwin: 2.30pm
  • Asifa Lahore: 2.55pm
  • Lola Lasagne: 3pm
  • Daniel Molyneaux: 3.25pm
  • Hannah Phillips: 4pm
  • Wilma Fingadoo: 4.05pm
  • Lolly: 4.10pm
  • Dr Bev: 4.45pm
  • Nicolette Street: 5pm
  • Bentley Jones: 5.25pm
  • B*Witched: 5.45pm

The PrideXtra Cabaret Stage is back by popular demand, presented by CLUB F-O-D and sponsored by Unite.

Organisers said you can expect a plethora of laughs, jokes, insults and shocking stories to be shared from a fabulously talented array of artists.

The stage kicks off at 12.05pm and the last act will be performing at 4.20pm.

The Pride aLive Stage features local artists and bands who are either allies and friends of the LGBT+ community or who identify themselves as LGBT+.

Festival-goers can expect a range of original songs and popular tunes from 12.20pm, with the last act performing at 6.35pm.