The groundwork is being laid for what organisers hope will be the most successful Pride Brighton and Hove yet.
Festival staff were grateful for a dry day yesterday to help set up the main stages for this weekend's Pride Brighton and Hove 2013.
Up to 100,000 revellers are expected to come to the city to watch the Pride parade from 11am, followed by Icons in the Park event.
Alison Moyet, original Sugababes trio MKS and Ms Dynamite are all set to entertain Preston Park with their performances on Saturday.
Motorists are being advised to be aware of road closures across the city while more than a dozen bus routes will also be affected.
The worst of disruption will begin from 11am in Madeira Drive as the parade travels west along Kings Road, up West Street, east along North Street and north to Preston Park where it is set to finish at about 2pm.
More than £5,000 has already been raised this year for the Rainbow Trust and tickets are still available for Icons in the Park.
HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust will be helping Pride participants to stay safe during the weekend by handing out condoms and giving people sexual health information at their stall in Preston Park.
Outreach teams from the charity will also be taking to Brighton's gay venues throughout the weekend.
A pop-up village complete with a cinema, post office and green will also appear in the park as part of the Time To Change campaign run by mental health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness.
Other stalls will be run by cancer charity Macmillan who will have a drop-in advice service for anyone with questions about cancer while South East Coast Ambulance service will have staff on hand demonstrating life-saving skills and advising on recruitment, community first responder schemes, and trust membership.
Sussex Police has issued a warning to anyone planning unauthorised and illegal outdoor events in the city during Pride weekend.
A spokesman said: “We have every intention of preventing any unlawful outdoor events which are likely to cause a nuisance to the surrounding communities, and this includes the beach.
“Anyone caught with unlicensed sound systems which are causing public safety concerns and disturbing local residents' face being prosecuted.
“We owe it to our neighbourhoods to do all we can to ensure everyone has an enjoyable weekend.”
Pride goers needing to see a GP or nurse, are advised to head to the walk-in centre in Aspect House in Queen's Road, Brighton, between 8am and 8pm.
The emergency number for residents and business in the Gay Village Party area this weekend is 07870 950005.
See The Guide today for an eight-page special on Prive Brighton and Hove 2013 and The Argus on Monday for an eight page supplement on the event.
See the latest news headlines from The Argus:
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel