More than fifty thousand people took to the streets during the day for the annual celebration of the city
The day kicked off with a mini parade at 12 noon from St Peter’s Square, that made its way along Deansgate and on to the Cathedral.
Led by two fantastical creatures, and with over 400 participants, including live bands, dancing birds, plenty of drummers, and Manchester’s very own Queen Bee, as well as some of Manchester’s many community groups dancing and performing their way along the route in a riot of colour and sound, it was a clear crowd-pleaser.
Sparks flew as the world’s largest dhol drum rolled into town, opening up to reveal amazing dancers and drummers, whilst award-winning dance company Levantes were dressed to impress with their ‘High Tea with a Twist’ performance in the middle of the crowds on New Cathedral Street.
From daring acrobatics with hula hoops and fire, to West End show tunes, juggling drummers, a hip-hop wrestling ring, a pair of the muddiest footballers ever seen, plus two musical cats in a giant birdcage with a larger-than-life canary, the day was full of non-stop surprises.
A majestic lion, cheeky gorilla, baby orangutan in a basket, giant seagulls, and a host of marvellous bees and butterflies also wandered the streets, entertaining the crowds.
The day also included back-stage tours of Manchester Opera House, and a host of free have-a-go activities for youngsters of all ages to join in with – from circus skills, drumming workshops and ukulele introduction sessions, to music-themed craft activities and ever popular sports pop-ups.
The day was brought to a spectacular finish with a show-stopping finale collaboration between English National Opera and Walk the Plank that saw a massed choir of 100 community choir members and football fans, accompanied by members of the Chorus of ENO, and student singers from the Royal Northern College of Music, singing their hearts out as internationally acclaimed soprano and BRIT nominee Camilla Kerslake sailed into Cathedral Gardens in a magnificent silver gondola, to perform the ‘Queen of the Night’ aria from Mozart’s The Magic Flute, alongside award-winning baritone Patrick Alexander Keefe singing the ‘Toreador’ from Bizet’s Carmen
