An incredible 75,000 people celebrated the first ever Manchester Day with a spectacular parade soaked in sunshine.
Families turned out in their masses to line the city centre's streets as dozens of larger than life floats, many hand-crafted by the city's school children and community groups, brought a carnival atmosphere to Manchester.
City bosses are already marking it down as one of the biggest celebrations of civic pride in our history, and the first of its kind in Britain – overtaking the 43,000 who marched to Manchester's new town hall when it opened in 1877.
Parade boss, Coun Pat Karney, said: “It has been the most stunning parade I've ever seen in the city.
“The council is extremely proud of the hundreds of children, young people and volunteers who made floats and costumes of such amazing quality.
“Manchester turned out in huge numbers and made us all proud to be part of one of the greatest cities in the world.
“The parade was up there with New York, Rio and anything Sydney can do. Manchester has shown it's a world beater.”
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From a huge floating bumble bee, to a giant robot, stilt walkers and dancers - some 1,800 people, and over 50 floats, took part in the parade which celebrated the city's place on the map.
Jean Wernham, 73, from Warrington, came into the city with 15 members of her family, including sister Betty Brewer, 76, from Indiana, U.S.A. Jean said: “It was absolutely fabulous.
“The floats were fantastic and its been a wonderful way to bring all the communities together. They should do it every year.”
Betty added: “I loved it. The best parade I've ever seen.”
Alan Fleeting, from Worsley, watched on Deansgate with daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Phil Wild, and granddaughters Heidi, five, and Matilda, seven.
He said: “There's been a really vibrant atmosphere in the city centre and an absolutely brilliant, cosmopolitan parade. It sends out a great message from Manchester.”
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council’s executive member for culture and leisure, said: “The first-ever Manchester Day was an amazing event, with sights and sounds the like of which the city has never seen before.
“What made it all the more amazing is that it was all created by Manchester people working together to celebrate pride in our great city.”
It is hoped Manchester Day will now become an annual event.
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so to make this work, how many volunteers are their taking part on the pararde, how many of them are being paid and that includes the organisers.
What do these people get out of it and who has paid for the road closures and for the security no doubt to be showsec...
Southern California enjoying the parade, sent lots of photos.
Fantastic display by Manchester Council, I Thought the only problem was more Barriers should have been erected on the streets. Also why was the parents of the Children that was the parade allowed to follow them along side and jump out now and again taking photos and videos, they really spoilt it for those trying to take photos.
But overall well done to everyone involved,many hours was put into it.
Type your comment here...Love this great show great day the best and friendliest City on Earth Long Live Mancunia
How many extra wardens and parking tickets did the Council manage to rack up this time?
Instead of a silly parade, which the vainglorious councillors hope can compete with world famous ones in New York and Sydney etc., why not promote the city's history by turning parts of Ancoats into an Industrial Revolution visitors attraction? Liverpool does a great job of attracting visitors to see their historical sites and they only have John Lennon's old house. This is the 1st industrial city; we had the Peterloo Massacre; the world's 1st computer etc. How can the town hall do such a poor job promoting an entirely unique heritage? You can have a parade anywhere to celebrate anything. Hardly original; plus we don't have the weather for it!
It was well worth watching. I thought overall it was delightful and a fantastic effort.
Some of the floats really were impressive. So was the feeling of unity and the community spirit. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves in Albert Square.
Thank you and well done to everyone involved, you did yourselves and Manchester proud. It definitely has to become an annual event in the calendar and it can only go from strength to strength.
I worked this event as the Front Marshall, we had great respect from the organisers, the police and all the participants prior to starting the parade but as we then started walking the route it was an amazing sight seeing everyone out of the route.
Even didn't get to see the parade but the atmosphere as we walked around was good and enjoyable.
Lots of volunteers were out their from different organisation taking part but without Manchester Event Volunteers who all turned up to do the stewarding on the parade, Thanks.....
Absolutely marvellous, if you missed it you missed a great event.
Roll on next year's!
What a fantastic day! Well done everyone that put the effort into making this day happen for all those that enjoyed the parade.
I could not attend today but glad it was a success despite what the doom mongerers on here where saying. I hope this gets bigger and better every year!
Fantastic.
Glad to see so many pople enjoyed the Manchester Day Parade. Pat Karney certainly does all he can promote Manchester in any way he can....but I still think he's a jerk!
Boxbag, Middleton
It was great, made my little girl smile and dance - so that'll do for me!
I also didn't feel alientated as a straight white Englishman, which was nice.
I'm delighted it went so well. I'd have liked to join in, but was busy all day. I can't think of another city (except maybe the one at the other end of the Ship Canal) that would have the 'brass neck' to organise a parade in its own honour - but there's lots to be proud of and to celebrate. I went to the Manchester International Festival Procession in July 2009 and thought it was absolutely wonderful. Deansgate just cries out for big 'Macy's Thanksgiving Day' style events. Sorry to be so positive - I'm sure it was a criminal waste of money etc etc, but sometimes it's just good to celebrate the good things.
Type your comment here...What a fantastic atmosphere it was, the floats were incredible and such hard work had gone into the parade that myself and my young family enjoyed immensely, well done to everyone involved.
Well done to everyone involved in the parade. Myself and my young family came to the carnival. It was fantastic and the atmosphere was tremendous. A most enjoyable afternoon.
brilliant day out and reminded me of why i love my city so much!!! Can't wait to hear what the doom and gloom merchants have to say about it!!
Glad it was a lovely day for all.Now can anyone remember back in 1973 when'Manchester' put on a festival in maybe may'june.I'm sure it ran for a week with lots going on in Crown Square andit was called 'Buzz Around Manchester'The emblem for it was a 'Bumble Bee;I remember going to it with my friends from school and coming home with a Bumblebee.It was advertised in the MEN and in those days you'd only get that type of info from your local paper.I'm sure MEN did alot of promotion for it and were involved with it.Maybe someone at the MEN can look in the archives and find out.
can we have a manchester day off the following monday to celebrate what manchester is all about?
Great day but not one mention or picture of the Steel Band who played in Albert Square on and off all day. They were fantastic and a real credit to whoever teaches them :) Shame on you MEN!
What a fabulous day! The results of the efforts put in by all concerned were stunning and covered a wide range of Manchesters cultural heritage. I personally would have liked to see a bit more championing of our musical heritage, but there's always next year! Well done Manchester!
An absolutely excellent event that just goes to show what a diverse and energetic city this is. All residents should be proud.
Just another event to provide Karney and Co with a photo op.
Glad I didn't go. I hate crowds.
As a volunteer I feel qualified to reply to umpire2! Did some help with the creation of parts of one section of the parade, and helped out and marshalled on the day. I got an incredible amount from it, a real sense of achievement at having created something, a chance to meet a wide range of people from all kinds of backgrounds, some of whom had amazing stories to tell, a sense of pride at being part of this brilliant city, with the wonderful people who took part in and supported the event - and a lot of fun.
I think things like this are brilliant at bringing communities together, and I think that is really important these days, so I don't begrudge anyone who was paid to help make it happen. I really hope it becomes an annual thing, I would definitely be involved again