STROUD Pride is returning to Bank Gardens on Saturday celebrating inclusion and equality.

The big picnic will have face painting, a variety of stalls with LGBTQ+ information and local queer sellers, as well as a tombola and bar run by the Queen Vic pub. 

There will also be live music by Stroud Red Band, DURY DUTY, Tortellini, Dryadic, Joe Reeves, Emma Parrott, Garish Patel & Friends and Queer Voices. 

An organiser said: “Come along and join the party of the year, donate and celebrate all the diversity and pro-equality that Stroud has to offer.”

Each year, the event grows in size, and this year's event will include an after-party at the Subscription Rooms.

Das Inch, the headliner, will perform hits from Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Broken Jaw will be performing rock songs. 

The party will be hosted by local drag queens Cake and Lily Love, with other performers including Neon, Salt, Sofiara and Vanilla Fuzion singing and entertaining the crowd.

Stroud Pride big picnic is a free event at the Bank Gardens running from at 12pm to 6pm on Saturday, July 23.

People are encouraged to meet outside the Sub rooms before walking down to the park together.

The after-party in the Sub Rooms begins at 7pm. Tickets are £8.

For more information visit www.stroudpride.com