Manchester Day Success
This year's Manchester Day's been branded a record-breaking success as tens of thousands of people came together to celebrate the city.
Tens of thousands of people lined the streets to celebrate all things Manchester for the sixth Manchester Day celebration and its theme – GAME ON – with thousands more taking to twitter with #mcrday in a truly international party.
Huge crowds made this year’s event, on Sunday 14 June, crowding the street to enjoy the fantastic floats, amazing costumes, musicians and more than 90 local community groups weave their way down Deansgate and perform across multiple city square locations.
Manchester Day’s intrepid mascot, Pixel, stole the show. The robotic explorer has spent the last few months learning about the city – his new home – ahead of today’s celebration. Relive his findings @PixelMcrDay
Other highlights included a show-stopping mass-dance section involving over 100 local dancers and choreographed by Jeanefer Jean Charles, mass movement co-ordinator for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a large-scale replica of one of Manchester-based aircraft manufacturer Avro’s first aeroplane designs and countless fantastic costumes, performances and pedal-powered structures.
For the second year running, Manchester Day provided an afternoon of performance and activities with pockets of party atmosphere dotted along the parade route. The Manchester Day canvass was again stretched across the city centre with entertainment and delicious food in Great Northern Square, Albert Square, New Cathedral Street and Exchange Square.
This year’s celebrations were more than a parade, as the Manchester Day canvass was stretched across the city centre with entertainment and delicious food in Great Northern Square, Albert Square, New Cathedral Street and Exchange Square.
KEY103's Chief Reporter Michelle Livesey spoke to pupils from Oswald Road Primary School:
Highlights included a spectacular new performance from Manchester-based circus skills organisation, The Circus House; an exclusive first-look at theatre company Pif-Paf’s new acrobatic piece; fantastic performances from the latest talent to come through the Royal Northern College of Music and a reworked version of Snakes and Ladders tracking the ups and downs of caring by the Manchester Carers Forum.
More than 2,000 people participated in the parade, which saw local charities, community groups and companies bring theme "GAME ON” to life with help from artists and parade producers Walk the Plank.
Cllr Pat Karney, Chair of Manchester Day, said: “Remarkable. Even after six years each parades betters the previous celebration. Each year I think we can’t top what we’ve seen and every year there is something new and simply jaw dropping – Pixel in particular really stole the show.
"Manchester Day is the perfect celebration for bringing everyone in this great city together. It breaks down any generation barriers as people of all ages get involved. That spirit of warmth and friendship is something Mancunians can be proud of.
“Today Manchester has been transformed. We have equalled, if not bettered, anything Rio could have produced. It makes you so proud to see the city celebrated like this – a day that will be remembered for the rest of our lives.”
Cllr Rosa Battle, Manchester City Council’s executive member for culture and leisure, added: "I’m always proud to be a Mancunian, but this parade reminds us all of exactly why. The passion and excitement is always infectious – a brilliant family day out.
"The parade also provides a real boost to city centre businesses – the cafes and bars were teeming today which is great to see and really important in these difficult economic times.”
The parade was produced by renowned event organisers Walk the Plank, who connected celebrated artists from across the North West with participating groups to create the wonderful artworks seen today.
Liz Pugh, Producer at Walk the Plank, said: "Today has been a real celebration of everything that makes this city great. From the thousands of participants who danced, cheered and played their way down the parade route, to the amazing musicians and performers who entertained in the city’s squares and streets.
“Not to mention the dedicated and hardworking team of volunteers - both those who helped in our creative workshop and those who brought their smiles and helped on the day - and our fantastic team of talented artists from across the region.
“Once more, Manchester has proved that it’s got spirit, it’s got talent and it’s proud to be marvellously Mancunian.”
The parade also received significant private sector sponsorship with Laing O’Rourke returning once again as gold sponsor and Keepmoat as silver sponsor.
Other sponsors include: Great Northern Warehouse Square, Galliford Try, ISG, Cruden Group, Morgan Sindal, Redgate, Daisy, Telcom and G4S.
Our other supporters were: Transport for Greater Manchester, NCP, Greater Manchester Police, Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, RNCM, Bolton at Home, Dance Manchester, Heart of Manchester BID, Simple Intelligent Parking and Oldham Council.