Hundreds of people lined the streets as the Caribbean Carnival parade brought an explosion of colour to south Manchester.
The sun finally shone as extravagantly-dressed dancers, musicians and DJs took part in a joyful procession through Whalley Range, Hulme and Moss Side.
Around 20 floats blasted out Caribbean beats as dance troupes followed behind.
Saturday afternoon's parade kicked off the carnival, which is being held in and around Alexandra Park this weekend. The theme for 2010 is ‘Diversity Explosion’.
Coun Roy Walters, from the Moss Side ward, was among the hundreds of people enjoying the carnival.
He said: “It is a fantastic day and a fantastic turn out. The weather is glorious, the sun is shining and everybody is enjoying themselves.
“There is a real diversity explosion. It is an important event because it is brings the community together. There is a variety of different nationalities here today, it's a great example of social cohesion.”
Some parade participants had looked set for disappointment after police stopped two floats leaving Alexandra Park just after 1pm.
The floats had been delayed in leaving the starting point so had been separated from the rest of the parade – and police officers at the event felt they would not have been able to supervise two different processions.
Musicians and dancers who had been left behind protested fiercely with police, who after 45 minutes agreed to escort the two remaining floats to the top of Alexandra Road so they could join the parade as it passed by.
A number of top reggae and soul-calypso acts are due to take the stage over the weekend and this year’s carnival queen is to be crowned in the park.
Organisers say the abolition of slavery is being celebrated with an unprecedented number of dance troupes.
Police have advised motorists to expect disruption in the area on Sunday as the carnival continues.
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Hands of Stone, Southside, Manchester UK (15/08/2010 at 10:50)
Excuse me?
citycentre, manchester (15/08/2010 at 17:29)
Moston Blue (15/08/2010 at 11:26)
So glad to see it still going strong.
Sadly, the title ''Diversity Explosion'' is an awful name, thrown at us by some councillor clearly......the only time I ever here the word ''diversity'' is in connection with the council.
Another_Anon, Mcr, UK (15/08/2010 at 15:08)
"Divide and rule is their own plan [...]"
squirrelito (15/08/2010 at 18:08)
jesse pinkman, manchester (15/08/2010 at 19:13)
Jokerman, Atlantis (15/08/2010 at 19:38)
alex bowen (15/08/2010 at 20:02)
Hands of Stone, Southside, Manchester UK (15/08/2010 at 20:37)
Im not saying hide it in the past but to dedicate dance troops to it is a bit on top and makes the average white man, feel a bit awkward about attending. a bit alienated/segregated if you like - so hows that then for irony?
I think on the St Georges day parade they should dedicate all the roses to the Romans leaving the country and 'freeing' us - How far back and for how long do we 'promote' this?
It turns most people right off !
bubbob, manchester (15/08/2010 at 21:33)
Lorraine Joseph (29/08/2010 at 01:01)
Lorraine Joseph (29/08/2010 at 01:01)
chamz b (30/08/2010 at 21:53)
Ron, Gorton (16/08/2010 at 08:06)
I went down there and had a good time. I wasn't aware that I was part of a social engineering project.
I have always been taught that we are all the same and not to judge/notice colour, religion, racee etc but these councillors are obsessed. They can't help but look at peoples, colour, race, religion etc. That to me is divisive.
I couldn't tell you how many white people, black people, Asian people, non British Eurpoeans etc there were there as like most people I was just enjoying myself.
I got a questionnaire through the post the other week asking me about my views on my local GP surgery - questions like do they answer the phone in a reasonable time, can I get appointments when needed, are the staff helpful etc. Four pages of this but then on the back page they wanted to know more about me so they could compare views of different 'sections of society', so they wanted to know my skin colour, ethnicity, religion, sexual orienation and other non relevant questions.
What difference dos my skin colour make? Aren't we always being told by these authorities that skin colour doesn't matter yet they are onsessed with it.
As for this survey then what will the do with it? If I find it unacceptable to wait for more that ten minutes for them to answer the phone will they say 'ahh but transgenders think it is OK' but Chinese think no more than five minutes is fine'
ant Myers (16/08/2010 at 09:59)
Lorraine Joseph (29/08/2010 at 01:04)
Harry Roberts , Oldham (16/08/2010 at 15:05)
Zingo, Manchester (16/08/2010 at 15:11)
citycentre, manchester (16/08/2010 at 15:17)
Gherkin man (17/08/2010 at 18:20)
How much taxpayers money went into this? Not just direct subsidy.....cost of policing etc.
Cos if onle "hundreds supported it, I can think of far better ways of spending the cash......like helping the vast number of kids who don't speak English to learn just that.
If only hundreds went, it's time to shelve it for a while.
Schwyz (17/08/2010 at 19:50)