TOMORROW will mark the third year of Bolton showing its support for the LGBT community with a packed weekend of events.

Bolton Pride 2017 is winging its way into the community with music, entertainment and colour from Friday.

Organisers will be welcoming hundreds of people into the town for four days of activities and new additions to the line-up have just been announced.

Nikki French, who represented the UK in Eurovision 2000, is joining the 90s night at the Venue Bar, while the event is also welcoming Matt Cain, editor-in-chief of Attitude Magazine, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.

Organiser James Edgington said: “It’s all really exciting! We’ve also got a few additions too!

“It’s great that our pride is now being recognised nationally and great for our campaign against hate crime.”

Pride – which attracted more than 1,500 visitors – starts tomorrow night with the vigil in Victoria Square followed by the lighting up of the rainbow flag over the Town Hall and a LGBT Film Night.

The Light Cinema will be showing Carl Loughlin’s short film, Tellin’ Dad starring Ricky Tomlinson and The Pass starring Russell Tovey.

Saturday it all kicks off with the big parade from Queens Park which will make its way down Spa Road to Victoria Square where there will be an afternoon of live music headlined by Stooshie.

Phats and Small feature in a Back to the 90s night also side Nikki at Venue Bar that evening and a Community Expo event takes over Victoria Square the next day.

Its then all rounded off with a night of theatre music featuring West End star Kerry Ellis at the Octagon Theatre on Monday night.

Visitors can collect tickets from the information hub in Crompton Place, located behind Subway.

Mr Edgington added: “Pride is an unashamed festival of diversity and it’s amazing to see how much it has grown over the last few years.

“It means a lot to us that so many have wholeheartedly embraced pride and shows attitudes are shifting and our differences are gradually becoming less important.

“We’re very excited to celebrate love with the wonderful people of Bolton.”

For weekend tickets visit www.boltonpride.co.uk.

Here is the full line-up for the Bolton Pride 2017 weekend:

Friday - the event will be launched with a Hate Crime Vigil on the steps of the Town Hall on Victoria Square from 6.30pm. It is free to attend.

From 8pm The Light Cinema in the Market Place Shopping Centre will host a LGBT Film Night. Tickets are available from bolton.lightcinemas.co.uk.

Saturday - The Diversity Carnival Parade registration opens at 10am at the Chorley New Road entrance of Queens Park and sets off at 11.30am and finishes at Victoria Square.

Music in Victoria Square runs from 12.30pm to 6pm and is free to attend, and Back to the 90s event starts at 8pm at The Venue in Churchgate with earlybird tickets costing £5.

Sunday - Community Expo starts at 10am in Victoria Square and the free events runs throughout the day.

Monday - The finale of Voices and Lyrics at the Octagon Theatre stars at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £12 from the theatre box office.