The biggest public spectacle of the city's annual Manchester Pride Festival is the Pride Parade.

Always a Saturday highlight, it takes the party out of the Village and onto the streets, and it sees thousands of people line the route to catch some of the colourful action.

There's always a top notch grand marshal leading the way too - and taking over from Sir Ian McKellen in 2016 is the Lord Mayor of Manchester Carl Austin Behan.

It's one of Manchester's biggest carnival moments, and this year it has a far, far away theme too as it focuses on the fairytale. Once Upon A Time is this year's motto, and so you can expect the usual troupe of colourful floats and walkers to have added sparkle in 2016 as they celebrate the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

Here's the latest parade map, which tracks the route from its starting point on Liverpool Road, before turning onto Deansgate, Peter Street and down towards Portland Street through the Village and over to the finish line down Whitworth Street to Fairfield Street.

Speaking about having the parade led out by the city's first openly gay Lord Mayor, Pride's chief executive Mark Fletcher said: "Councillor Austin-Behan has become a figurehead of the LGBT community, particularly in Greater Manchester.

"It’s hard to believe councillor Austin-Behan was thrown out the RAF for being gay back in 1997; since then he’s gone on to become the Lord Mayor of Manchester. His own story is one of true inspiration.

"I can think of nobody better or more relevant to be leading the parade this year as we march ahead into the future.”

Viewing Points

(Image: Sean Hansford)

The map shows some of the best viewing points along the route.

Starting at 1pm from Liverpool Road, the best place to see it first in full flow is as the parade turns onto Deansgate.

If you fancy catching it over a pint, then Peter Street is the place to go - book a booth in the window of Albert's Schloss for the ultimate spectator spot here.

To catch a bit of the colour from the Village as you watch the parade, head for the end of Portland Street or Princess Street, or you can see everyone celebrate another brilliant parade well done as it comes to a close on Fairfield Street.

Parking

(Image: Joel Goodman)

The map also highlights the most easily located car parks with generous space. Some of the smaller car parks in the centre of the Village are closed to accommodate the festival.

The city gets very busy during the parade, so it's advised to arrive easy to bag a decent parking spot and to watch the parade. It is also recommended that you check if your usual route into the city is available due to road closures.

Large NCP car parks are marked on the map at the following addresses:

Stone Street M3 4NE

Great Northern Warehouse M3 4EE

Queen Street M2 5JB

Manchester Central (formerly G-Mex) M2 3GX

Chepstow Street M1 5JN

China Town M1 4EE

Oxford Street M1 5EJ

Abingdon Street M1 6DD

Sackville Street M1 3LY

Bloom Street M1 3LY