Your summer Pride guide for the West Midlands

Birmingham is hosting its Pride event this weekend, but it is not the only event celebrating the region's LGBT+ community.

Although they take different shapes and sizes, the central theme for events is that of inclusion.

Parades, picnics and comedy nights alongside exhibitors offering support and advice, are all among what is planned.

Here are some of the Pride festivals taking place across Staffordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands in the coming months.

Wolverhampton Pride is being held in West Park and runs from 14:00 BST to 20:00 on Saturday 6 June, with a music stage, food and drink traders, a fun fair and children's activities. The route of this year's parade will be confirmed in the coming days.

On the same day, Bridgnorth Pride is back for its third year, with a rainbow parade along Castle Walk followed by a picnic in the castle grounds. The parade starts at midday.

Bedworth Pride takes place the day after, and includes food and drink as well as licensed vendors. It runs from midday until 18:00 in the town centre.

On 20 June it is the turn of Stoke-on-Trent Pride, with the event celebrating its 20th anniversary. The event takes place at Hanley Park and brings together more than 100 different organisations.

Oswestry Pride is on 27 June, at Cae Glas Park, featuring a wide array of stallholders and performers to keep attendees entertained.

Walsall Pride Picnic In The Park is a free-of-charge event taking place on 26 July at Walsall Arboretum bandstand. Taking place from midday until 17:00, it will see live music with people invited to bring their own picnic for a relaxed afternoon.

August is a busy month for Pride events in the West Midlands, with Stafford Pride – joining both Solihull Pride and Lichfield Pride on 8 August - with the Lichfield spread across both days, meaning the festivities continue there on 9 August.

Later in the month, Warwickshire Pride Festival is taking place on 22 August while Walsall Pride Festival is on 29 August.

It's the turn of Pride Worcester to take the spotlight on 12 September, while Shrewsbury Pride rounds things off on the weekend of 26/27 September.

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