Manchester has well and truly rolled out its rainbow carpet for Pride this weekend.
Kicking off on Friday, you'd be hard-pressed to find a corner of the city that isn't bursting with flags, rainbows, and a whole lot of love - proving that this year's festival will be bigger, louder, and prouder than ever.
Retail giants Primark and Marks and Spencer are just two of dozens of city centre shops and businesses that have been smothered in rainbow upcycling for the bank holiday celebrations.
Coffee shops, banks, and restaurants featuring swinging rainbow canopies, bunting, and colour-changing lights along Market Street show that businesses in the city centre have really pulled out the stops this year.
The entrance to the Royal Exchange walkway has upgraded its usual floral statement piece with a burst of rainbow razzle dazzle and the infamous Pride flag was even flown above Manchester Cathedral.
Mark Fletcher, chief executive for Manchester Pride, said: “It’s brilliant to see so many organisations partnering with us over the bank holiday weekend to raise awareness of the issues still faced by LGBT+ people.
"I am proud that Manchester Pride Festival is now an internationally renowned event which touches people’s lives not just in Greater Manchester but across the world and it is the support of allies such as Manchester Cathedral that ensure that we reach as many people with our message promoting equality and inclusion as possible.”
The iconic shopping centre Afflecks also features a Pride flower display above its Church Street entrance, as well as a "Pose for Pride" selfie area inside.
The independent shopping institution will have its own float at the parade this year, decked out with mini-planets in keeping with the "Deep Space" theme.
Parade-goers have been asked to dress for "A Future World of Equality", where LGBT+ people are "free to live and love without prejudice", and costumes will no doubt be as glitzy and galactically-spectacular as they are inventive.
The parade kicks off from Liverpool Road at midday on Saturday and will weave its way around a catwalk of colour across the city, finishing on Fairfield Street.
Canal Street is ablaze with splashes of bold and loud bunting and and prep is in full swing at Mayfield as Manchester gets ready for its Pride Live concert - which is of course being headlined by Ariana Grande on Sunday night.
Years & Years, Bananarama and Basement Jaxx - and many other acts - will also be performing across the weekend.
Festival goers will be able to exchange their tickets at pledge band exchange points from 10am tomorrow.
