After a two-year absence due to Covid, Manchester Day – the city’s favourite day of the year – is back for 2022 and promises to be bigger and better than ever before.
Back for its first outing since the last Manchester Day was held pre-Covid in 2019, the spotlight for this year’s big return of the city’s much-loved free event will be fixed firmly on children and young people.
Manchester Day revellers will delight in a kaleidoscope of colour, sound and culture as youth and community groups from across the city join in the famous parade that has become the highlight of the day.
As always, music and dance will also spill over into the city centre squares for a full afternoon of family entertainment, food and drink – all of which will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Anyone can be part of Manchester Day, and the callout is now on for youth groups, community groups, volunteers, and anyone else who wants to take part.
There are lots of different ways people can take part – whether that’s working with a professional artist to turn their creative idea into one of the amazing creations for the parade; joining a pop-up workshop and working with others to make something spectacular; bringing their own colourful costumes or traditional cultural dress to dance, strut or style their way along the streets as part of the parade; or getting involved in volunteering opportunities both on the day and in the lead up to the event.
Councillor Pat Karney, Chair of Manchester Day, said: “What a long three years it has been! We never dreamt as the sun set on Manchester Day in 2019 that it would be another three years before we would be able to get together and celebrate our wonderful city again.
“Absence really does make the heart grow fonder though and we’ve already had a fantastic response to our call-out for community and youth groups to get involved.
“We’re dedicating Manchester Day this year to the city’s children and young people who have missed out on so much during the pandemic. It’s been a really tough couple of years for them, and we’re determined to help them smile again and have some fun.
“The return of Manchester Day is a chance for everyone to show the world what Manchester is made of and celebrate kicking Covid good-bye in true Mancunian style.
“I cannot wait!”
