Durham is geared up to welcome up to 200,000 visitors this weekend in celebration of one of the biggest events in its calendar.
Durham Miners’ Gala is always a spectacle of colour across the city and this Saturday's return is set to be no different with proud displays of miners' banners, processions and stomping brass band music. From the first event in 1871, organised by Durham Miners' Association, the Gala honours local mining history, trade union roots and includes the famous Big Meeting.
As those banners are unfurled in readiness for the street parade on July 8, we have, below, a guide to the event which will be taking over the streets of Durham, with the crowds set to pack out the streets to march in what is described as Britain’s biggest celebration of trade union and community values.
Read more: Summer festivals still to come including Durham Brass Festival from July 9-16
The Gala - unlike a normal trade union march - tends not to have a precise start or finish time or even one central location. Instead, it plays out - quite literally - with colliery bands marching though their own Durham villages early in the morning and then arriving in the city from all directions.
Guide to the Durham Miners' Gala
Where, when and day's timings: This year's gala - its 137th outing - is this Saturday, July 8.
8.30am - in readiness for the colourful march, bands and groups with banners will gather around the Market Place in Durham before setting off for the racecourse. Other assembly points will include Whitechurch pub in the west of the city. Those who would usually parade down North Road are this year told to use Framwelgate Waterside as a starting point.
The processions always converge at the County Hotel at Old Elvet where labour movement leaders, guests and dignitaries will be on the balcony to greet them - it can take a good few hours to pass. The banners - tapestries capturing the area’s proud working class history - make for a spectacular sight.
1pm - The Big Meeting will be opened at the old racecourse, by which time tens of thousands of people will have gathered among the set-up stalls and fun fair attractions. For guest speakers see here.
2.30pm - after the speeches, the procession of brass bands and speakers will move to Durham Cathedral
3pm - the traditional Miners’ Festival Service will start at the cathedral with music and and the blessing of new banners.
Road closures - for details of which roads will be closed from 4am on the day see Durham County Council's website here. The centre of the city will be off-limits to traffic from 5am, although there will be early access to to the multi-storey car park close to the Market Square.
For more about the options including park-and-ride see the Marras: Friends of Durham Miners' Gala website here.
Camping - there are options at the official Gala campsite at Houghall College, just a short walk from all the action: read more here.
Anything else to know? The Durham Miners’ motto is ‘the past we inherit, the future we build’ and to stir the passion of locals, organisers say of the Gala: "There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world." The event is funded by the Marras and to contribute to support future events, or to join the Friends, see here.
