Aberdeen will host its first-ever Winter Pride in celebration of the LGBTQ+ community this weekend.
More than 1,800 have signed up to take part in the event, which includes a parade down Union Street from 11am on Sunday.
It is the first time the event has been held in the winter, as Pride events are normally held in the summer.
However, there has been some controversy over the decision to allow the parade to go ahead when other events, such as Aberdeen’s annual fireworks display, have been axed amid Covid concerns.
But Deejay Bullock, chief executive of Four Pillars, said now is the time to bring people back together after a difficult 18 months.
He said: “We are excited that we have managed to create an event that the public and the community can share with us and get involved in.
“Now more than ever it is important that we remember our past, celebrate our present and embrace our future. We need to remember where pride started and how we got to this point where celebrations can be held around the world.
“It was a process that started as a march for equal rights and we celebrate what we have been able to achieve over the last 50 years. Things have moved but are not quite there yet.
“We have just got through a pandemic so we need to have this time to celebrate still being here together as a community and that’s why we should embrace the uncertainty of the future, together.”
Throughout the day, a Covid vaccination hub will be running at the charity’s premises on Regent Quay.
Various charities and agencies, such as Aberdeen Cyrenians, National Fostering Agency and the NHS sexual health team, will be manning stalls at Aberdeen Arts Centre.
To find out more, visit the Grampian Pride page.