This Sunday marks the eighth year of Manchester Day celebrations in the heart of Manchester, which celebrates the diversity and creativity of Manchester, and each year hosting a different and varied theme. This year, it's a magic theme titled "ABRACADABRA". There will be a parade, food & drink, and activities throughout Manchester City Centre for families and everyone else to enjoy.
The idea of Manchester Day is so communities can contribute to the event in celebration, bring people, artists and local businesses together. The day itself plans to include around 2,000 participants, artists, and performers, which are all involved in around 100 charities, and the day should play host to a possible 60,000 attendees.
Activities include music from young musicians from Manchester colleges and groups, Jazz from Matt and Phreds, illusionists, magicians, entertainers, acrobatics, food & drink, and much more! All of this would be found at St. Ann's Square, Cathedral Gardens, and Exchange Square. The parade will be made up of fantastical displays (if last year's is anything to go by!), which would have been created by communities and groups in collaboration with the artists and charities. The parade will start at 1pm at Liverpool Road, and then make its way to Albert Square (Town Hall), then down Deansgate and finishing with grand finale at Exchange Square.
Some photos from behind the scenes at one of the creative workshops:
As mentioned, there will be food & drink, and if you are not already aware from previous blog posts, I LOVE FOOD.... A LOT !! Some of my favourite street food vendors will be providing a variety of delicious food throughout the day, which are, but not limited to, Bratwurst from Fat Annie's, south indian streetfood from Chaat Cart, and polish cuisine from Smak!, but a full list can be found here: http://manchesterday.co.uk/food-drink/
The curator of Manchester Day is Walk the Plank, an organisation of art and entertainment enthusiasts, celebrating 25 years of mesmerising audiences with outdoor spectacles all around the North West of England, especially Manchester & Salford, and internationally. Walk the Plank were behind the parade for the Rio Olympic Heroes Parade in September 2016 in Manchester, and Manchester Day 2016.
Manchester Day 2017 is guaranteed to be a fun-filled day, and to get you in the spirit, here is a collection of my photos from last year's event themed "EUREKA":
