Bristol Pride guide: Everything you need to know

Tens of thousands of people are set to come together to celebrate Pride in Bristol.

A parade, festival, afterparties and hundreds of performers will be in the city for one of the UK's largest Pride events.

Organisers say the annual event celebrates love, diversity and friendship and how far LGBTQ+ rights have come, and how in some places there is still work to be done.

With so much on offer, planning for Pride Day can seem daunting - especially if it is your first time.

To help, here is everything you need to know to make the most of the celebrations.

Pride celebrations will take place on Saturday in Bristol. Events will start in the morning and finish late at night.

The Pride march is open to anyone who wants to celebrate and is a walking parade, with vehicles and floats forbidden.

People will begin to gather at 10:00 BST at the bandstand end of Castle Park and the march will set off at about 10:45.

The parade is not sectioned and there are no specific business blocks, meaning everyone is free to join.

The route is two miles (3.2km) long and will take about an hour to complete, ending in the Amphitheatre at Bristol's Harbourside.

Once the parade has arrived at the Amphitheatre, people can head to the festival.

There will be shuttle buses waiting to take people up to the site on the Downs.

First Bus travel is free across the whole day for supporter wristband holders, who will receive instructions on how to activate their ticket through the First Bus app.

Strictly speaking, no. Bristol Pride remains a donation-only event.

Festival-goers with supporter wristbands - which cost between £9 and £45 - will have access to benefits ranging from free travel and food and drink discounts to fast track entry to the official afterparty and a welcome drink.

There will be more than 200 performers across five stages at the festival on the Downs.

Entertainment will kick off on the main stage from 12:45 BST, ahead of a further nine hours of performances.

The festival will be headlined by Canadian singer-songwriter, Allie X, who will perform at 20:25 BST and be the finale to a day featuring the likes of Cascada, Kim Wilde and local comedian Jayde Adams.

There are four other stages at the festival - Cabaret, Uplift, the Pride Circus Tent and the Dance Performance Stage - all of which have a full programme throughout the day.

There is a dedicated family area at the festival, with organisers saying there will be something for kids of all ages to enjoy.

Youtuber and children's author Pop'N'Olly will bring interactive performances celebrating diversity and inclusion for families.

There will be all-day arts and crafts and a number of other activities.

Pack lots of sun cream and a hat as temperatures are expected to rise by the weekend.

The Met Office has predicted highs of 32C in Bristol on Saturday, so make sure to stay hydrated and in the shade, where possible.

If you still have some energy after all that, the official afterparty gets underway at the O2 Academy Bristol from 22:00 BST.

The event will be headlined by the likes of Guilty Pleasures, Jonbers Blonde (DJ Set) and Dirty Pop - with tickets costing £14.50.

There are also events at other venues across the city, including Basement45 and Lost Horizon.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.