Six weeks of intense preparation culminated in an exuberant display of artistic talent and creativity as the Manchester Day Parade celebrated its 10th birthday on Sunday.
Watched by an estimated 70,000 people, the colourful jamboree made its way from Princess Street, along Peter Street and then through Deansgate before finishing by Manchester Cathedral.
With over forty community groups taking part, the parade is a powerful and elegant expression of the diverse identities and cohesiveness of Manchester’s numerous communities.
Sparkle, a participant in the parade, told MM: “Manchester Day is beautiful, it’s for the people, by the people of Manchester. It brings everybody together and is an absolutely amazing feeling.”
Kelsey, a dancer from Jelly Dance, said: “It’s nice to just celebrate everything and get everybody moving and entertain everyone that comes here. It’s a big celebration for Manchester and being the tenth anniversary of it, it’s a massive thing.”
The parade was originally a part of the Manchester International Festival, before emerging as a major event in its own right. It is commissioned by Manchester City Council and is organised by Walk the Plank, a creative arts’ company from Salford that specialises in producing outdoor theatre and spectacles.
If you didn’t manage to make it to the parade, then MM have put together a short highlights package of Manchester’s proudest day.
