Rainbow flags will fly high and proud this month when Jersey City's 18th annual LGBT Pride Festival returns to Newark Avenue in the heart Downtown Jersey City.

Co-hosted by Gayborhood Jersey City and the Hudson Pride Center, the annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community will take place Aug. 25 from 1 to 9 p.m. between Jersey Avenue and Grove Street.

The festival will kick off with a parade on Newark Avenue, starting at Grove Street and ending at the main stage on Jersey Avenue. The march will be led by Gotham Cheer and the all-women Fogo Azul drumline. Harmonica Sunbeam, AKA the Queen of Comedy, will serve as the festival's MC.

A drag stage in the lot near Palace Drugs will be a new addition to the festival this year. The stage will feature performances by Inaya Day, the shows headliner, as well as Jason Walker, Atlus, Glo 96, Chic Appeal, Jack Tracey, and Gonna Be All Stars featuring Catacombs, Droze, Keisha Martin and Michael M., and Ana David Smith AKA IceTheVibe.

Jersey City DJs Skittlez and Mike Cruz will also be on tap, providing music throughout the festival. The official after party celebration will be held at Talde/Miss Wong's from 9 p.m. to a.m. with DJs Nesto and Mike Cruz spinning upstairs while DJ Lorant spins downstairs in Miss Wong's. There will also be a special performance by Will Sheridan in Moss Wong's while MC Anthony hosts in Talde.

Meanwhile a flag raising and award ceremony are scheduled for Aug. 22 at 3:30 p.m. at City Hall. Mayor Steve Fulop's office will be raising both the gay pride and trans pride flags, while lamp posts in the City Hall Plaza will also lit in pride colors.

Longtime supporters of the Jersey City Pride Festival include CarePoint and RDG Hospitality, while Smirnoff and Lyft are new sponsors of the festival's entertainment.