IT’S BEEN 20-years since the last one – but 2016 has been deemed the year Southampton will get its Pride back.

A committee headed up by some of the city’s top cabaret acts is putting together a one-day rainbow-filled extravaganza for the city’s LGBT population and their friends and supporters.

Featuring a community parade and family-friendly activities the event will bring together local and national acts, as well as a drag show and late night after parties.

Organiser Vie Portland said: “We keep meeting people who say ‘we’ve been wanting this for years’ but haven’t got round to putting it on.

“Although we’ve only got a very short space of time and it’s exhausting we’re just going for it.

“We’ve already got lots of interest but we want it to be great quality.”

The motivation to put on the event – which will take place on August 28 – came as a result of the Orlando shootings, when Vie couldn’t be with gay friends in the US.

She said: “We want it to be open to everyone and to be a community festival.“It will be a place of love and not a political statement. It’s all about coming and feeling the love.”

Staff from the Mayflower Theatre will help steward the event and Hampshire Constabulary’s LAGLOS – or lesbian and gay liaison officers – are also keen to support.

Vie added: “We want to go out and be bright and colourful and noisy in a good way – showing it’s a community festival.”

Interest in getting a Southampton Pride event off the ground was generated by Hedge End trans activist Chrisie Edkins in 2012, but as reported by the Daily Echo she died the following year.

Now in its second year, Portsmouth Pride attracted nearly 7,000 people to its June event. A spokesperson said: “We relied on sponsorship and funding and it cost us just under £40,000. We just about broke even and topped up the cost with ticket sales.”

Reading’s 12th Pride event last year drew 10,000 people, with Bournemouth attracting a similar amount.

More than 200,000 people attended Brighton Pride 2015, generating £18million in the city and £100,000 for local groups via the Rainbow Fund.

The Manchester event – which also takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend – saw 43,500 visitors in 2015 and generated an estimated £20-22million over the four-day weekend. Hotel accommodation was at 98.5 per cent capacity.

Southampton’s Pride parade will go from the Stage Door venue in the city centre, through Guildhall Square, around the Bargate and finish back at the Stage Door.

Live acts on the West Marlands Road stage will start at noon with Timeless female harmony group, and go on until 10pm with parties at the London Hotel and The Edge nightclub until late. The drag show will be held at the Stage Door.

To get involved see the Southampton Pride Facebook page.

A fundraiser in aid of the festival raised nearly £600 but organisers are still looking for sponsors and a headline act.