ORGANISERS of this year's Chester Pride festival have reasons to be cheerful even before this year's event takes place.

With one month to go before the main festivities take place in the city on August 10, the organising committee is delighted to announce it has been shortlisted for a National Diversity Award.

The honour comes following a selection process involving 28,000 nominations, with Chester Pride making it to the final eight in the Community Organisation Award for LGBT category.

The awards, run in association with ITV News, will be announced on Friday, September 20 at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral.

Chester Pride 2019 will feature four stages packed with live music acts, including the M&S Bank Mainstage featuring headline act Heather Small of M People, 90s 'Saturday Night' singer Whigfield, X Factor’s Lloyd Daniels, Eurovision 2000 contestant Nicki French, plus a host of other acts.

Also returning will be the largest Health, Life and Wellbeing zone at any UK Pride event, with 70 stalls of information, support, and social groups, plus new for 2019 is a café space inside.

There’s also the return of the Children’s Zone, Youth Zone, the Airbus Alcohol-Free Chill Out Area with parent and baby facilities, and a marketplace featuring local traders.

Chester Pride 2019 is also one of the most accessible events yet, with an accessible viewing platform, BSL interpreter, changing places mobile toilet, and free loans of ear defenders for people who struggle with loud noises.

New for 2019 is the Kaleidoscope @ Pride stage on the Little Roodee Car Park, featuring performers of all abilities in partnership with Kaleidoscope @ Storyhouse and Vivo Care.

The colourful parade returns to start festivities, as it winds its way through the city centre.

This year, the parade promises to be bigger, more colourful, and more entertaining than ever thanks to the sponsorship from Bank of America and the parade will pass under the iconic Eastgate Clock.

Main celebrations then kick off from 1pm once the parade gets back to Castle Square.

Over the past 12 months, Chester Pride has welcomed a new chair, Warren Lee Allmark, and the committee set to work on some new exciting projects, including launching the UK’s first LGBT+ inclusive Family Activity Book in partnership with Jon Cole Arts.

Their Family Fun Days are also proving ever popular, with a second free Family Fun Day taking place on Sunday, July 28 in Grosvenor Park.

It promises to be packed full of free activities, stalls, and entertainment for the kids including a Kids Got Talent show between 11am and 3pm.

Warren said: "Our committee have been working non-stop for the last 12 months to deliver the biggest free event we have produced in Chester, plus working on several projects for the wider LGBT+ community.

"2019/2020 sees some great additions to the Chester Pride programme of events including the planned launch of our first high street and online shop, selling a range of great LGBT+ inspired gifts and treats which will help further fund Chester Pride alongside our amazing sponsors and public donations.

"Our outreach programs will only increase as we work with Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Public Health, and Equalities, teams plus several other local community organisations.

"We are also furthering our working relationships with local and national business to deliver a network of training, education and inclusivity. A huge focus for me is mental health, and we are working on ways to increase visibility of support services to our guests.

"Early 2020 will see Chester Pride launch its first Awards event that celebrates local LGBT+ Icons, inclusive businesses, and public services, as part of our commitment to insuring Chester Pride keeps its community focus at the heart of everything we do."

A full programme of planned events can be found at www.chesterpride.co.uk or on Facebook at ChesterPrideUK, on Twitter @Chesterpride and Instagram @Chester_Pride_Official.