A huge parade will make its way through the city this summer to celebrate the first-ever Manchester Day.
The event – which it is claimed will rival New York’s world-famous Thanksgiving Day parade – will be the centrepiece of an event council chiefs reckon will give residents the chance to celebrate life in Britain’s second city.
Manchester Day, on June 20, is expected to see thousands of people flood on to the streets with floats, inflatables and colourful costumes.
The event will be co-ordinated by Walk the Plank – the arts company behind the lantern procession which closed the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
The firm has also been involved in Toronto’s Winter Festival and the Singapore Arts Festival.
Communities will be invited to work with professional artists to design their own costumes and floats.
They will be encouraged to highlight what Manchester means to its residents and the theme of the parade will be ‘out of this world’.
Council bosses want the event to celebrate Manchester’s ‘cultural diversity, history and vision for the future’.
The day will also see a string of co-ordinated parties taking place across the city, along with other events.
Mike Amesbury, Manchester council’s executive member for culture and leisure, said: “We wanted to create an event that not only celebrates the city but which also involves the very people who make it such a great place – the people who live and work here.
“I know that Mancunians will step forward with their can-do attitude and help make Manchester Day a real success.'
To find out how to get involved, go to www.themanchesterdayparade.co.uk
Tweet
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Ambrose (24/02/2010 at 08:45)
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (24/02/2010 at 08:47)
As far as council leaders are concerned, don't they mean 'on another planet'.
Mark,Radcliffe. (24/02/2010 at 09:05)
Mum's little sun beam, on her knee (24/02/2010 at 09:12)
One of my kids has a birthday around then and it is always wet.
It'll be a disaster.
Stevedore, Quayside (24/02/2010 at 09:19)
Ambrose (24/02/2010 at 09:29)
I am not sure anybody know what a Mancunian is anymore, never mind daring to mention being English. To most people in the UK Mancunain means Shaun Ryder, Liam Gallagher, Shameless, drunkeness, sink estates, rain, car crime, gridlock (as advertised by the council last year), burglaries and Coronation Street. That is the view that I had as a Londoner and it is pretty much the same although I do like Manchester.
Maybe that is what they celebrate. The real Manchester rather than a 'vision for Manchester' that bears no relation to reality and could be staged in any city. Celebrate who and what you are and be proud.
I can't see it rivalling the New York parade with it's 3 million visitors.
Stuie72, Manchester (24/02/2010 at 09:34)
Neale and Pray, Stockport (24/02/2010 at 09:36)
As for Manchester being only the 7th largest city in England I would like to hear who is between us and London/Birmingham??
I'm a proud Mancunian, this city is recognised across the world for our Sport and Music not to mention comedy, tv and film, diverse cultures and the people... I for one will be going and I doubt I'll be stood on my own.
Mum's little sun beam, on her knee (24/02/2010 at 09:38)
Mike S, Manchester (24/02/2010 at 09:41)
J.Hall, Tameside (24/02/2010 at 09:56)
Manchester has the lowest green area`s in the region,the highest traffic volumes,the largest amount of air pollution whick kills people (and you had better believe that) highest crime rates and heart and lung diseases,more uneducated and unemployed,more pregnacy in the young,more wasted projects like the big bang (which went bang),and behind the City Centre facades filthy,scruufy area`s.(you would not go there at night)
So less of the cr--- and Spin,surely Manchester Folk don`t fall for this deceptive and deliberate manipulation of reality.
Take the clubs,pubs and so-called night-life away and what have you got,ybloody NOWT.for the vast majority.
Stevedore, Quayside (24/02/2010 at 10:03)
Research it and you will find that Manchester is the seventh largest city in England and the ninth largest in Britain behind Edinburgh and Glasgow. And like Manchester, all these cities have much to be proud of and are able to stage events in the same way and if not better as Manchester can.
I eat cheese occasionally, Manchester (24/02/2010 at 10:21)
Savage Mandarin, Manchester (24/02/2010 at 10:22)
dessie, manchester (24/02/2010 at 10:22)
bluelight, Levenshulme (24/02/2010 at 10:30)
Kingmonkey, Manchester (24/02/2010 at 10:59)
Mark,Radcliffe. (24/02/2010 at 11:30)
dorsy, bury (24/02/2010 at 11:32)
whitebird, Republik Mancunia (24/02/2010 at 11:38)
Public School Pimms Lout (24/02/2010 at 11:46)
We should have a huge parade, floats from all the outlying towns, the emergency services, local soldiers, precessions of floats with amateur Manchester bands playing, sports clubs (professional and amateur), Rotarians, religious groups, school kids, students, the gay community and everyone should be represented!
A special area/display/attraction or what ever should be available for the famous and historic folk of Manchester, the Peterloo Protesters, the Victorian Engineers and popular figures like Tony Wilson.
Open all our magnificent museums and galleries up for free!
Get a huge party going and top it off in the night with a firework display that would rival the Olympics in Beijing!
Celebrate this great city properly! Do some huge and outrageous, get the day reported on in the world wide media and to hell with the cost!
I am sick of everything that could be fun and celebratory being compared to price of another hospital wing or baby incubator by kill joys and moaning miserable lefties!
LETS AV A PARTY!
When in Rome (24/02/2010 at 12:07)
Then follows the male shaven heads with that "Made in England" look about them.
Then follows the gang rapists all masked up to conceal their identities, just behind them are the taxi driver rapists that never get caught.
The drug dealers are next, they don't bother to conceal ther identities because everyone knows who they are anyway.
A line of murders and monsters that have commited serious violent crimes, solicitors and judges then walk hand in hand together.
At the back of the parade, Karney and co march proudly perfectly content with it all.
Mum's little sun beam, on her knee (24/02/2010 at 12:16)
Brilliant post. How about they approach Greggs to pay for a giant pasty which everyone can eat after the event.
Neale and Pray, Stockport (24/02/2010 at 12:21)
Your coment on Manchester being the 7th largest city in the UK is based on population not size. A mini with 4 people in it isn't as big as lorry with just one driver. Manchester is generally regarded as Englands second city (along side Birmingham) because places like Bristol, Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds just don't have the same capacity, infastructure or global recognition to cope with major events unlike thewonderful city of Manchester.
Savage Mandarin, Manchester (24/02/2010 at 12:22)
Leaving aside your similarity to Gordon Brown, can you confirm that you are actually a Manachester Council Tax payer?