HUNDREDS of people descended on a city centre park and filled it with colour to celebrate Pride.
Palmerston Park was packed with festival-goers for Party In The Park on Saturday.
READ MORE: Southampton is painted rainbow as hundreds attend Pride event - 15 pictures
The free, two-day weekend event boasted more than 30 stalls, live performances, and a variety of fun activities.
The highly-anticipated event has been three years in the making but for organiser Jake Radwell of People’s Pride Southampton, it’s been worth the wait.
'Long time coming'
He said: “We are really excited as the event has been a long time coming.
“It’s going to be fun and full of local musicians, activists and surprise performances.
“For us, it’s about being an event that is accessible for all and one that includes everybody.
“It’s a two-day event that gives back to people. It’s also getting the message across that there are still a lot of problems in the LGBTQ+ community.
“We do things all year round, not just in Pride month.
"We support everybody and that is how it should be.”
'It is fantastic'
The walking parade started at 11.20am and saw a number of attendees march through the city centre before returning to the park to enjoy the festivities.
University of Southampton student Ryan Scott was lucky enough to lead the march.
The 19-year-old said: “Party In The Park has been really good.
“I did the march with the LGBTQ+ society at the university and I was right at the front of the parade.
“I think it’s amazing we can just come in and have access to all of this for free.”
For fellow student Louis Cook, 20, this was his first Pride event.
He said: “This is fantastic and it is so important to see other LGBTQ+ people here as well as those people celebrating Pride.”
An event for all
Alongside the LGBTQ+ community, there were representatives from various charities and organisations, independent businesses, and food and drink vendors holding stalls.
Activities included an adult bouncy castle, a surf simulator, a children’s area and a professional photo booth, and much more.
Susan Hainsworth described the event as “brilliant.”
The 60-year-old from Thornhill said: “It’s free, it’s fun, and the atmosphere is fantastic.
“I’ll definitely come back if they do it again.”
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