🏳️‍🌈 Pride is back and bigger than ever

Good evening, and welcome to this week’s edition of On The Town. With the school holidays now upon us, plenty of you will be on the look out for things to do with the kids in the coming weeks. If you have any child-friendly events taking place that you would like us to promote then please do get in touch with details via the usual channels. It can be hard to spot everything that’s happening in Folkestone’s packed summer calendar, so tip-offs are always welcome.

This year’s Pride celebrations promise to be “louder and prouder” than ever as the town comes together to celebrate its thriving LGBTQ+ community. Saturday will see the parade set off from the bottom of the Old High Street at 1pm, reaching The Leas for the picnic and party from 2pm.

Artists performing at the bandstand between 2pm and 6pm include drag act Tiana Biscuit, Chappell Roan tribute The Midwest Princess, and dance troupe Homoparody. After the daytime fun is done, the party will continue at the Quarterhouse from 9pm until late, with DJ and broadcaster Jaguar headlining OutOut: Official Folkestone Pride After Party. She will be supported by Oli Keens and Teutonic Kaboom.

Folkestone Pride director Rosie Percy said: “We’re thrilled for Folkestone Pride to return on Saturday. Now in our ninth year, it’ll be louder and prouder than ever before with a larger parade, all-new line-up for the daytime event that’s free and open to all, and an incredible headliner for our biggest official after party yet. It’s the ultimate celebration as part of our year-round commitment to support our local, much-loved community and we can't wait for you to join us.”

BOOK NOW: The parade and party on The Leas are free to attend and everyone is welcome. Tickets for the after party at the Quarterhouse, which is for over-18s only, are £18 and can be purchased on the Creative Folkestone website here.

Do you have an event in Folkestone you would like to promote in a forthcoming edition of the On The Town? Send details to us and we’ll help spread the word!

Promote your event

🎙️ Comedian Gary Delaney is coming to the Leas Cliff Hall on Friday, July 24. The comic’s last UK tour ran for two and a half years across 378 dates, and now he’s back with a fresh show, Gary On Laughing. The gig starts at 7.30pm and you can get your tickets here.

🥁 There will be musical fun for little ones at the Quarterhouse tomorrow, July 21, as Mrs H and The Sing-a-Long Band come to town. Bringing together elements of folk, soul, Afro, Latin, dub, comedy and theatre, the aim is to play great music for children that adults will love too. Aimed at youngsters aged five and under, the show starts at 11am and tickets are on sale here.

🎞️ Films showing at Silver Screen Cinema this week include Moana and The Odyssey. Full details of all this week’s screenings can be found here.

🎻 Baroque violinist Walter Reiter will be performing music by JS Bach at St Mary & St Eanswythe Parish Church on Saturday, July 25, from 3pm. Tickets are £15 for adults, but free for children and students, and you can get yours here.

🍷 Wine expert Matt Walls is hosting a tasting of 25 wines made with the Cinsault grape at John Dory in Sandgate on Thursday, July 23.

🎨 An exhibition entitled ‘Queer before pride, stories left untold’ is being staged by the Queeriosity Collective at Whelkboy Gallery in the Old High Street, showing work by artists by Susan Churchill, Clare Unsworth and Sue Venables. It is open to the public from 10am to 4pm daily until Sunday, July 26.

⛳ Channel Rotary is hosting an Adventure Golf Championship on Friday, July 24, from 2pm to 8pm at Folkestone Harbour. The event costs £10 per person to enter, with all money raised going to local charities. There is no need to register in advance, simply turn up on the day and post the best score you can.

☀️ Pomus is launching a summer series of Sunday Sessions with drinks offers and a DJ playing tunes in the garden. The first is this Sunday, July 26, from 4pm.

🎉 Community group Go Folkestone is hosting an all-day festival at The Grand on The Leas on Saturday, July 25, to celebrate its 25th anniversary. There will be free events during the daytime, and then a ticketed concert in the evening featuring a number of local performers. You can find full details here.

🎞️ Teen comedy The Lizzie McGuire Movie will be showing at the Harbour Arm on Friday, July 24, as part of this year’s free cinema programme. The 7pm screening is completely free to attend, you don’t need a ticket, and spaces are available on a first come, first served basis. You can find out more about this and other upcoming events at the Harbour Arm here.

🎥 This year’s Folkestone Documentary Festival opening night film will be The Cycle of Love from Academy Award-winning director Orlando von Einsiedel. Tickets for the screening at Silver Screen Cinema on October 22, which include access to the opening night party and a Q&A with the director, are now on sale here.

🎵 Fun House, a night which sees up-and-coming local acts performing alongside a house band, returns to the Quarterhouse on September 4. Tickets on sale here.

If you want us to tell the people of Folkestone about your forthcoming event, please drop an email with all the details to rhys@folkestonedispatch.com. Your regular weekly Dispatch will be with you on Wednesday morning.