The countdown has begun for Manchester Day, the city’s big free family day out.
The event will return for its tenth year on June 23 and organisers are promising an exuberant celebration of a proud city, for its people, by its people.
Organisers will mark the event’s tenth anniversary with the theme ‘10 out of 10’ which they say will celebrate the best of Manchester’s people, cultures and communities and their astounding achievements in industry, science, music, fashion, education and sport.
Revellers will be able to delight in a kaleidoscope of colour, sound and culture as community groups from across the city will come together for the Manchester Day Parade, which has become the highlight of the day. And organisers will be inviting community groups and participants back to the event who have been part of the show over the last decade to help us celebrate 10 years of Manchester Day.
As always, music, dance and outdoor theatre will also spill over into the city centre squares for a full afternoon of family entertainment, food and drink (but more about that in the next few weeks).
Cllr Pat Karney, Chair of Manchester Day, said:
“Manchester Day always promises to be the biggest, most colourful and most creative summer celebration in the city’s packed events calendar and this year it’s certain to be even more extraordinary, as we’re celebrating 10 incredible years of this big day out in the city.
“Manchester Day is one of those events you just can’t afford to miss so put it in your diary now and join in the countdown with the generations of families and thousands of Mancunians who will be joining together to celebrate the city in the party of the decade.”
The mammoth task of creating the artworks, costumes and props will be produced once again by award-winning arts organisation, Walk the Plank, as more than 1,500 participants and volunteers from local communities, working with around 30 artists, will be bringing Manchester Day to life.
Despite its size and scale, sustainability is key to the event which aims to be as green as possible, recycling materials as much as possible along with a policy against petrol-driven vehicles in the parade.
Cllr Luthfur Rahman, Manchester City Council’s executive member for culture and leisure, said:
“The countdown has begun. This is THE free, family event of the summer and one that gets more incredible every year. A real highlight and a wonderful way to bring Manchester’s communities together.”
Liz Pugh, Co-Founder and Creative Producer of Walk the Plank said:
“It’s great to hear the stories of those people who got involved in the first Parade ten years ago, and see which new communities have come forward too. And we know that the commitment to sustainability – which sees us reduce waste, re-use what we can, and work with recycled materials – is now setting a standard for parades and live events nationally.”
For more information or to find out how you can volunteer to be part of this year’s Manchester Day click here.