Southend Pride returns to the city today after two years of cancellations due to the Covid pandemic.

The iconic rainbow colours of Pride will fill the streets of Southend during the annual parade after organisers secured last-minute funding.

Here's all you need to know about the events and what's on today. Southend Pride will be hitting the City on today with an amazing day of rainbows and glitter, entertainment, food, drinks, and stalls.

Starting at 11.00am, entertainment will start at Royal Square at the top of Pier Hill before the parade sets off up the High Street at 12pm.

From 12pm, the festival will begin at Warrior Square Gardens. Acts lined up for the festival planned as part of this year’s Pride include Love To Sign Choir, singer songwriter Kyle Finn, The Vox Choir, Leigh Operatic Dramatic Society and many more.

The celebrations were launched with a special Pride flag raising at Porters House in Southend on Thursday from 11am.

Organisers are promising an “amazing day” of rainbows and glitter, entertainment, food, drinks, and stalls.

Event bosses had feared the festival, which is costing just under £20,000, could be cancelled due to funding issues.

But last minute donations from the public, along with sponsors coming forward and funding from unions means its full-steam ahead for this year’s event.

It will be the first time Pride celebrations are staged in Southend since it was awarded city status.

The annual summer’s event celebrates the LGBTQ+ community but has been cancelled in previous years due to the Covid pandemic.