The St George’s Day parade is set to return to Manchester this weekend with its celebration of England’s rich heritage and community spirit. Originating from a grassroots organisation, the community event has become a popular, family-friendly celebration that showcases the diverse and eclectic idea of what it means to be English.
The parade, which has been a fixture in Manchester’s event calendar for over 19 years, aims to celebrate the nation’s spirit and the country’s achievements, particularly those that embody fairness, community, equality, and hard work. The event will feature performers on decorated floats and like previous years, a cavalcade of up to 300 mopeds will join the parade for part of the route, along with a regal Queen Victoria in a royal carriage, a blue dragon towering at 7ft and an array of community groups across Manchester.
When and where will the St George’s Day parade take place in Manchester?
This year’s St George’s Day parade will be held on April 27, starting from Varley Street at 12 noon. Although the parade is being held on the same day as Manchester Marathon, the two events are not expected to impact each other.
The parade sets off from East Manchester at the junction of Varley Street/Oldham Road, travelling into the city centre as far as Piccadilly Gardens, then returns to East Manchester via Oldham Road, Butler Street and Bradford Road.
St George’s Day parade route
The parade will commence at Varley Street, turning left onto Oldham Road (southbound only), and will travel towards the city, crossing over Great Ancoats Street to Oldham Street. It will then turn left on Piccadilly, left on Newton Street, left on Dale Street, right on Lever Street, left on Great Ancoats, right on Oldham (northbound only), right on Butler Street, left on Bradford Road, and finally left back to Varley Street arriving at around 2.15pm.
The parade is expected to take approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete the route.
Which Manchester roads will be closed for the parade?
The following roads are expected to be closed on Sunday 27th April for the St George’s Parade.
- Varley Street from Ridgeway Street to Oldham Road – 9am to 4pm
- Oldham Road southbound from Varley Street to Great Ancoats Street – 12pm to 2.30pm
- Great Ancoats Street from Oldham Road to Newton Street – 12.30pm to 12.45pm – Hold traffic
- Oldham Street from Great Ancoats Street to Piccadilly – 12.30pm to 2pm
- Piccadilly from Oldham Street to Newton Street – 12.30pm to 2pm
- Newton Street from Piccadilly to Hilton Street – 12.30pm to 2pm
- Dale Street from Newton Street to Lever Street – 12.30pm to 2pm
- Lever Street from Hilton Street to Great Ancoats Street – 12.30pm to 2pm
- Great Ancoats Street from Lever Street to Oldham Road – 1.30pm to 1.45pm – Hold traffic
- Butler Lane from Oldham Road to Bradford Road – 12pm to 2.30pm
- Bradford Road from Butler Street to Varley Street – 1pm to 2.30pm
Will there be any parking restrictions on the day?
Parking restrictions will be in place on the following roads:
- Newton Street – Piccadilly to Dale Street - 12pm to 2.45pm
- Oldham Street – Piccadilly to Great Ancoats Street – 12pm to 2.45pm
- Lever Street – Piccadilly to Great Ancoats Street – 12pm to 2.45pm
Thelma McGrail, Chair of the St George’s Day organising committee, said: “Manchester’s St George’s Day Parade, celebrating England’s Patron Saint, has been an annual event for the last 19 years, this being the 20th. The parade itself is abundant in diversity, growing each year, uniting all communities. The event receives a huge amount of support before and on the day of the parade with hundreds of participants and thousands of spectators.”