Channel Islands Pride will return to Jersey on Saturday 21 August 2021.
The new date, which has been selected to compliment other Island events, to avoid clashes with UK-wide Pride festivals, and to take advantage of the fantastic Jersey summer weather, will see Pride growing as an Island attraction.
As in previous years, the Pride Parade will travel through the centre of town with live music and street performers along the way. The parade will end at the Pride Village located at Les Jardins de la Mare, which will include on-stage performers, food and drink stalls, and a range of family friendly activities, overflowing onto the beach below.
Channel Islands Pride remains the only completely free festival in Jersey, thanks to the generous support of Island businesses, including returning headline sponsor the Channel Islands Co-Operative Society.
Pride is known for its relaxed, friendly atmosphere, family entertainment and live music. The plans for the 2021 Pride celebrations include an Exhibition section, a Community Stage and a Health and Community Zone, as well as the return of the Main Stage, Family Zone, Silent Disco and Food Village.
In 2021 Pride organisers are also looking to bring the Channel Islands closer together by streaming the entire event live over social media and YouTube, as well as to a large screen in Guernsey, so that all members of the pan-Island community can take part.
Last year’s Channel Island’s Pride took place in Guernsey. It was the only UK Pride event to go ahead in 2020, because of UK-wide COVID-19 restrictions.
A spokesperson for Channel Islands Pride said: “We’re thrilled to be back in Jersey and we’re planning to put on a Pride that is bigger and better than the one in 2019, while still retaining the inclusive, community atmosphere the event is known for.
“Pride is part of that carnival atmosphere that makes the Island so special in the summer. It will sit alongside events like the Battle of Flowers and Island music festivals, to make this summer one to remember.
“We also hope that Pride attracts a new LGBTQ audience to Jersey, and that they will recognise all that makes the Island so special. We’ll be working with travel operators and hoteliers to ensure that visitors from Guernsey, the UK and further afield return home with wonderful reports of our festival, our Island and our community.
“We’re working closely with community organisations, including the Bailiff’s Chambers, SOJDC, and Honorary Police to make sure that this Pride is both spectacular and safe. We hope to have more details to announce soon.”
Mark Cox , CEO of The Channel Islands Co-operative Society said: “We are extremely proud to once again be the lead sponsor for Channel Island’s Pride and in welcoming the parade back to Jersey. It means a great deal to us to be part of this popular community event having supported CI Pride from the very beginning. Not only is CI Pride an important event in our calendar in recognising the equality and diversity of our community, it also brings our islands together in celebration of what makes us unique.”
Further details can be found on the event website: www.channelislandspride.org