Organisers of the island’s second Pride event are calling on the community to turn out and show their support - before enjoying an afternoon and evening of entertainment.

Isle of Pride will get under way on Saturday with a Festival Parade along Douglas seafront to the Villa Marina Gardens, the venue for the free entry festival.

Committee member Dawn Kinnish told Island Life: ‘Last year was a huge success for us. We registered in the region of 8,500 people who attended throughout the day.

‘The biggest thing we are building on this year is the parade.

‘Last year we were restricted because of the parade route to only 50 people so we had to do an invitation-only event. We invited people who have had significant equality journeys.

‘This year it’s an open invitation so we want as many people to turn up as possible, either from the LGBTQIA+ community or friends, familiy, allies.’

Anyone wanting to take part in the parade is asked to meet at the south end of Douglas Promenade, near the Snack Shack, from 11am.

There will be judging and prizes for the best dressed entrants at 11.30am before the parade sets off along the promenade walkway at 11.45am.

The route will see the parade go to the bottom of Broadway before crossing the road and entering the grounds of the Villa Marina.

The parade’s arrival will mark the opening of The Crimson Panda Festival Village, which opens at midday, with live entertainment, fun for all the family, food and snack outlets and a cash bar.

Dawn explained: ‘The Pride parade is about the protest, it’s about trying to bring about change to make sure people have equal rights.

‘When we get to the festival that’s about everybody sharing the love.

‘That’s what I felt last year - the vibe was about everyone being themselves and love is love.

‘It really came across during the event and we really want to share that feeling again that everyone is welcome, everyone is accepted, we all respect each other and our differences.

‘In terms of festival outcome that’s what we aim to achieve.’

Two family teepees, one supported by Crowe and the other HSBC, will host free activities including arts, face painting and bouncy castles, from midday to 5pm.

Activities in the HSBC Family Teepee include sand art at midday with Kids Be Happy, make a rainbow tutu with Sue Quilliam from 1pm, and there’s a rainbow fashion show at 3pm.

The IQEQ Evening Teepee will open at 6pm with members of the queer community sharing their Pride stories.

It will be followed by a poetry session featuring Simon Maddrell at 6.45pm. And then from 9pm to 11pm, DJ Allan Vannin will host a silent disco.

An LBGTQ+ youth chill zone with youth workers from the Department of Education, Sport and Culture will be open from 6pm to 11pm. The chill zone is supported by Lloyds Bank.

Live music and entertainment will take place all afternoon and into the evening on the Pokerstars Flutter main stage.

The line up includes Vida LaFierce at 12.30pm; Jay O’Connell at 1pm; Rainbow Choir at 1.45pm; Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens at 2.10pm; The Reveillettes at 2.30pm; Nicki Naden at 3.30pm; 42nd Street at 4.15pm; The Isle of Man Drag Scene 1 at 4.30pm; Tom Swift at 5.45pm; A Stones Throw at 6.30pm; Mae Challis and Nell at 7.30m; The Isle of Man Drag Scene 2 at 8.30pm; DJ Sound at 9.30pm; Perfect Illusion at 10.45pm.

The Festival Village closes at midnight.