Organisers of this year’s Bradford Pride festival hope it will be the biggest and best celebration yet of the lesbian, gay and bisexual community in the city.

This year, the festival will hold its Big Pride event in Centenary Square on Saturday, May 22.

The event will feature local favourite Miss Marigold Adams, the Buffet Dancers, based at Bradford Playhouse, Barbara Nice, who featured in Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights, and Liverpudlian singer Sonia.

Rachel Nauwelaerts, community development organiser for the Equity Partnership, said: “Pride is about celebrating the achievements of the LGB community and how far we have come along in the equality legislation.

“Obviously a lot of the audience for the Centenary Square event are LGB, but we have a lot of heterosexual people who support equality issues who came along last time and had a fab time.

“It’s not just for gay people, it’s for all the Bradford communities, so whoever wants to come along can come.

“It is a fun day – we have got children’s entertainment, the Youth Service is invited and we have got activities such as face-painting.

“We have built up Bradford Pride and it’s come by a lot of effort from a lot of volunteers and people who have worked tirelessly to make it happen.

“Last year was obviously the first time in Centenary Square, and that was just fantastic.

“So it’s a similar theme to last year, but we want it to grow and develop, not just for the LGB community, but for Bradford as a whole and something people will come into Bradford to enjoy.”

Smaller events will also be held in the city throughout May as part of this year’s festival, including an evening of comedy and culture at the Midland Hotel, Bradford, on Thursday, May 20.

Writer and performer Stella Duffy will appear at the event, along with cabaret duo Topping and Butch and comedians Andy Train and Isma Almas.

On the evening of Friday, May 14, the Women’s Pride event will also be held at the Midland Hotel.

Today will see the launch of Bradford Pride on Twitter, meaning people will able to get regular updates in the run up to the festival.