TENS of thousands lined the streets of the city centre on Sunday 22 June to celebrate the virtues of this great metropolis at the fifth annual Manchester Day.
“It was like Rio in the city centre today. It makes you so proud to see Manchester celebrated like this."
More than 2,000 people from nearly 100 Mancunian community groups joined in the parade, dancing, singing and drumming their way from Liverpool Road, down Deansgate and on to more entertainment, food and drink in the many public squares of the city: Albert's, St Ann's, Exchange and Great Northern.
Highlights included a humongous red horse, to mark the Chinese year of the horse, a giant disco ball, with a nod to Manchester's music heritage, Traditional sbandieratori flag throwers at St Ann's, daredevilry from Circus House in Albert Square and Councillor Pat Karney's face.
Councillor Pat Karney: "It was like Rio". Or in this case, auditions for a vampire movie
Councillor Pat Karney, Chair of Manchester Day, said: "We’re now in our fifth year and the spectacle hasn’t dropped an inch – if anything it grows bigger each year. Absolutely fantastic.
"It was lovely to see so many young people and families out on the streets today enjoying the show, but Manchester Day is wonderfully inclusive and many older people have also been wrapped up in the celebration as part of the city’s age friendly city status.
“It was like Rio in the city centre today. It makes you so proud to see Manchester celebrated like this – a day that people will remember for the rest of their lives.”
Greater Manchester’s Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd, said: “Manchester Day is a celebration of all that’s great about our city, but what makes it truly special is the way in which it brings communities together.
"Stronger communities are safer communities, and the work that’s been done to create the spectacular entries we saw in the parade goes far beyond the day itself because Manchester Day has a lasting impact and an enduring legacy across the city."
Here's how it looked:
Photo credits to Mark Waugh (www.markwaugh.net)
