A CARNIVAL atmosphere was brought to the town centre as Pride and Wonder in The Street arrived to brighten up St Helens amid today's downpours.

As part of St Helens' year as the Liverpool City Region's Borough of Culture, St Helens Pride and outdoor theatre festival, Wonder In The Street, returned for a full day dedicated to celebrating the local LGBTQ+ community.

 

A carnival atmosphere was brought to the town centre

 

Kicking off with a Pride parade outside St Helens Town Hall, members of the LGBTQ+ community were joined by representatives from a number of groups and organisations, including St Helens Council, the NHS and Merseyside Police.

The spectacular parade - featuring a drumming band - headed through Victoria Square, Barrow Street, and Church Street.

Businesses decked their shop fronts in rainbow colours and crowds lined the streets, with many clutching mobile phones to video the occasion.

READ > Best of village's pubs celebrated

 

A carnival atmosphere was brought to the town centre

 

Meanwhile, charity and arts organisation Wonder Arts - which creates unique experiences for more than 50,000 children, young people, and families across the North West every year - held an outdoor theatre festival.

This featured a Big Gay Disco Bike, Family Catwalk Extravaganza and The Most Dangerous Cup of Tea in the World – while Dizzy O’Dare brought ‘The Giant Balloon Show’ featuring feverous balloon sculptures, high energy comic performance and of course the giant balloon.

If you head to the Star's Facebook page you can see a video of the carnival as it happened.