It’s time to start flying the rainbow flag and feeling the love because Pride month is here.

The annual event will see parades, popstars and drag queens taking to streets all over the country to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

Dating back to the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York, Pride is a chance for LGBTQ+ people and allies to come together and promote equality, diversity and love.

June is officially Pride month, but the party continues throughout the summer, with some events taking place right up until September.

The country’s biggest Pride events are Brighton and Hove Pride on the first weekend of August and Pride in London, which takes place in the heart of the city on Saturday, June 29.

However, if you can’t make it to the capital, Kent now boasts several local festivals and parades where you can wear your heart, and Pride, on your sleeve this summer.

Ashford

Drag compere Miss Betty Late'N Never will be hosting the live entertainment at the first ever Pride Ashford, which includes cover bands, singers and dance groups. The music continues into the night with the afterparty at Coachworks, which boasts lip syncs, drag kings and tribute acts. There’s also the parade, which starts at The Bandstand from 3pm, and crafts in the morning with Made in Ashford.

Details: Saturday, June 22 at The Bandstand and Coachworks in Ashford. Entry is free, but tickets must be booked online in advance here.

Canterbury

Kent’s biggest Pride festival might have had to downsize this year, but thousands of visitors are still expected to flock to the city centre for the event. With performances from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’s Baga Chipz, reality TV star Katie Price, Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus, YouTuber Charity Shop Sue and kmfm’s Rob Wills, there’s plenty to keep party-goers entertained. The parade will start from Westgate Gardens at 11am and there will be an adults-only afterparty at Tokyo Tea Rooms, hosted by Glitterbomb.

Details: Saturday, June 8 at the Dane John Gardens in Canterbury. Entry is free and there’s no need to book.

Dartford

This year, two stages at Dartford Pride will be filled with back-to-back entertainment. Kimberly Wyatt of the Pussycat Dolls, former X Factor contestant Anton Stephans and drag queen Cherry West are set to storm the outdoor Flag Stage in Central Park, while panto dame Dolly Dumpling will host the Rainbow Stage at the Acacia Sports Hall. This is where you can also see the lip sync battle with Dee Star and the Dartford’s Got Talent competition in between face painting, giveaways and street performances.

Details: Saturday, July 6 at Central Park and Acacia Sports Hall in Dartford. Entry is free, but tickets must be booked online in advance here.

Deal

This year, Deal Pride kicks off with a Pride is a Protest march through the seaside town, which begins at Alfred Square from 11am and continues to Walmer Green. Then, there will be live music and entertainment on the bandstand, as well as food and drink stalls and craft and gift stands.

Details: Saturday, July 13 at Walmer Green in Deal. Entry is free and there’s no need to book.

Dover

Parading through the heart of the town, from Maison Dieu Gardens to the Roman Lawn, Dover’s LGBTQ+ community will be out in full force this August. After the march, there will be an afternoon of free live music, family activities and a makers’ market which continues until 4pm.

Details: Saturday, August 24 at the Roman Lawn in Dover. Entry is free, but tickets must be booked online in advance here.

Folkestone

The line-up hasn’t been announced for this year’s Folkestone Pride just yet, but the team behind it, who also host regular LGBTQ+ events at the Quarterhouse, are known for their glittering Pride celebrations. There will be a parade, followed by a picnic on the Leas with live entertainment and afterparties taking place at different venues all over the trendy coastal town.

Details: Saturday, July 27 at The Leas in Folkestone. Ticket information is yet to be announced.

Faversham

This year’s Faversham Pride will be a tale of two halves. The first part of the day is a family-friendly garden party with a glitter station, children’s arts and crafts, giant outdoor games, music, drag acts and a mechanical rodeo bull. Then, in the evening, there’s a party just for the grown-ups, with racier entertainment, rainbow-coloured shots and UV face painting.

Details: Saturday, July 27 at the West Faversham Community Centre. Entry is free and there’s no need to book.

Gravesham

Gravesend’s Fort Gardens will host this year’s festivities, and it’s set to be another fabulous event. The line-up and ticket information will be released later this month, but we know there will be a traditional flag raising and foot march through the town, followed by live music, dancers, food and drink. Last year saw Freddie Mercury and Elvis impersonators, drag queens and DJs take to the streets, so who knows what could be in store this summer.

Details: Saturday, August 10 at Fort Gardens in Gravesend. Tickets will be available from Saturday, June 22 and will be free to book.

Herne Bay

The morning will start with a short parade from the Clock Tower to Herne Bay Pier at 10am, followed by a whole day of family-friendly entertainment at the Pier Ceylon pub opposite the beach. There will be music and outdoor stalls until the evening, when the ticketed adults-only evening begins.

Details: Sunday, August 25 at the Pier Ceylon in Herne Bay. Entry is free and there’s no need to book.

Maidstone

Maidstone Pride is making its debut this June with a colourful parade from County Hall to Jubilee Square. The event, which has been organised by 13-year-old Kitty Eeles, will then continue at Lockmeadow with performances from musicians, dancers and drag acts, as well as food and drink stalls from local businesses.

Details: Saturday, June 22 at Jubilee Square and Lockmeadow in Maidstone. Entry is free, but tickets must be booked online in advance here.

Margate

While there will be festivities taking place all over Margate for this year’s event, the main Pride party will happen inside the walls of the town’s vintage fairground, Dreamland. Drag icons Jodie Harsh and Bimini, who appeared on the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, will headline the live event, which includes DJs, bands, dancers and tribute acts all performing on the outdoor Scenic Stage.

Details: Saturday, August 10 at Dreamland in Margate. Tickets start from £10 and can be booked online here.

Medway

Lots of venues in Medway’s Intra area, between Chatham and Rochester, will be taking part in the Medway Pride Fringe, a week-long programme of arts, culture and entertainment that showcases the local LGBTQ+ community and welcomes people to learn more about the history of Pride. The main event will then take place with a parade along Rochester High Street and live performances on the main stage inside the grounds of Rochester Castle.

Details: From Monday, August 12 to Saturday, August 17, with the main event taking place on Saturday, August 17 at Rochester Castle. Ticket information is yet to be announced.

Sheerness

Swale Pride returns to Sheerness this summer, with a bigger, better and longer parade than last year. The parade will start from the entrance at Millennium Way at 10am and continue along Sheerness High Street to Beach Street, with fancy dress and colourful outfits encouraged for both participants and onlookers. There will then be an afternoon of stalls, music and radio roadshows to keep crowds busy.

Details: Saturday, June 29 at Sheerness High Street. Entry is free and there’s no need to book.

Tonbridge

Pride is setting up shop at Tonbridge Castle for its third year, bringing with it a jam-packed day of family games, fun entertainment, arts and crafts, glitter face painting, henna tattoos and food and drink. One of the vendors at the festival is Larry’s Bar, from Gillingham - winner of Hospitality Champion at the Kent & Medway Food & Drink Awards - who will be whipping up an exclusive signature cocktail, the Rainbow Fizz, especially for this event.

Details: Saturday, August 3 at Tonbridge Castle. Entry is free and there’s no need to book.

Tunbridge Wells

Few details have been revealed about this year’s Tunbridge Wells Pride, but we do have a date to pop in our calendars. The festival will return to the town centre in August and, if it’s anything like last year, independent music venue The Forum will be putting on another night of cabaret, drag performers and cheesy disco floorfillers.

Details: Saturday, August 17 in Tunbridge Wells. Venue and ticket information is yet to be announced.