BOURNEMOUTH’s Pride Festival is to return for 2021 after organisers have announced the event will be postponed this year.


Bourne Free, which was due to be held on Friday July 3 to Sunday July 4, will now be held on the weekend of August 20 and 21.


Having revealed last year that the 2020 event was to return to Meyrick Park for the first time in ten years, members of the Bourne Free team have said that the two-day affair will now be moved back at the Triangle for one last celebration.


Bourne Free Chair Neal Errington said: “Following the recent review on government guidelines and the roadmap paved for a lockdown free Britain, the Bourne Free trustees have met with BCP Council and we are beyond thrilled to confirm that Bourne Free Pride Weekend will be back for 2021.


“The introduction of Covid-19 measures has meant that we will not be moving to Meyrick Park this year as originally planned in 2020, but we are returning for one last stint in our long running home, The Triangle.


“For our regular and much-loved patrons, we will have the opportunity to have one last hurrah at the Triangle, which we are tag-lining as ‘Back to Basics - The Farewell Tour’.”


The festival is one of the most popular events in Bournemouth, selling around 3,000 tickets in previous years.


Event and ticket details will be announced later this week, but attendees have been told that there will be a reduced capacity at the event this year.


Organisers have urged people to book tickets as soon as possible to secure their place.
After this year’s event, it is believed the festival will be hosted at Meyrick Park in 2022 for the foreseeable future.


Organisers have said they are thankful to be able to host an event this year and are looking forward to bringing some colour back to the streets of Bournemouth.


Mr Errington added: “Naturally, everybody’s safety is paramount to us, so there will be additional measures in place to make the event as safe as possible, which will include a reduced capacity and the removal of some elements of our pride.


“I think everyone is going to be so excited to be involved they won’t even notice.


“Everybody has had to deal with the last 12 months in ways we never imagined we’d have to in our lifetimes, so we are very proud and thrilled to be back to shed a rainbow light for everyone in Bournemouth to enjoy.”