Croydon will be staging its Pride parade and festival on July 15, with live music, dance, food and drink for all to enjoy in Queen’s Gardens.

Pride returned to Croydon in 2016

The festival which will also feature stalls and exhibits, will have cabaret and comedy on offer until 8pm, followed by a number of after-parties.

The theme of this year’s event will be 50 years of LGBT equality – marking the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Act that partially decriminalised homosexuality.

Last year, saw the return of Pride to Croydon, when around 500 people participated in the parade down North End and more than 3,000 people attended the event on Surrey Street.

The council’s announcement of the 2017 date does not explain the change of venue; Surrey Street this week sees the start of roadworks, which are due to be completed by “early June”, while Queen’s Gardens are expected to be next to a building site by the summer, as work begins to build four residential blocks on the site of Taberner House.

Headline acts arranged for 2017 Pride include Edinburgh Festival turn Topping and Butch.

“It’s great to see the return of Croydon Pride after last year’s fantastic event,” said Paula Goodwin, the chair of a newly formed Pride steering group. “I’m delighted the council and police continue to show their support to Croydon’s LGBT+ community and their commitment to ensuring the borough is a safe and welcoming destination for all.”