PLANS are underway for Helensburgh’s second Pride event, and could see a festival take place in the town.
A report to councillors and community figures from the town’s community hub has stated that Rainbowfest could be on its way.
The event, described as “a day of celebration and diversity, and is free and open to all including families, adults, young people, and LGBTQ+ allies” was first held in Mid Argyll in 2023.
It was then held in Kintyre in 2024 and Dunoon in 2025. Helensburgh Community Hub held its first Pride event in June 2025, but no date has yet been confirmed for any event this year.
Details of that and other events planned by the community hub feature in a report to Argyll and Bute Council’s Helensburgh and Lomond community planning group at its meeting on Tuesday, May 12.
A spokesperson for the hub said: “Following the success of the first ever Helensburgh Pride last year we are organising more events to celebrate Pride again this year, and we are working with Phil Dexter from liveArgyll to look at bringing Rainbowfest to Helensburgh as part of our Pride programme.
“Full details are still to be finalised but we are hoping to involve local shops and business showing their support for Pride by displaying Pride material, as well as organising a quiz and possible picnic in the park.”
It added: “We are working in partnership with liveArgyll (Helensburgh Library and the community adult learning team), Fun First, Hill House, The Book Fairies organisation and a Hermitage Primary teacher to create a bespoke summer family programme for Helensburgh and Lomond based around (but exclusively) books and stories.
“It will be an inclusive and accessible inter-generational project to encourage more families to read together and provide free activities for them during the summer holidays.
“We were delighted to host the first ever Noir at the Bar in Helensburgh recently, which saw around 150 people coming to hear ten best-selling crime authors hosted by locally-based crime writer Daniel Sellars. The event raised £1,500 for our Dolly Parton Imagination Library programme.”
