Manchester Day organisers have revealed that Little Amal - the 3.4 metre high puppet of a Syrian girl refugee who arrived in Manchester last summer - will be out and about in the city centre during the epic parade. After a forced three-year absence due to Covid, this year's parade promises to be an absolute showstopper.
Sunday, June 19, will be Little Amal's very first Manchester Day. The city has become the home for the puppet after a huge 8,000 km journey through Turkey and across Europe from Syria. And the parade's creators say they are making sure the event will be unmissable.
The city centre will be 'buzzing all day long with plenty of things to see and do, as well as making sure the iconic Manchester Day Parade - full of music, colour, and dance - is the most memorable yet', following it's pause since 2019.
READ MORE: 'Concerned' medics have a plan to deal with Monkeypox if it spreads to Greater Manchester
Launched in 2010, Manchester Day is a larger than life celebration – inspired by New York's Thanksgiving parade – that brings the carnival spirit to Manchester city centre each June. Commissioned by Manchester Council, thousands of residents and community groups take part, with thousands more lining the streets to enjoy the procession of floats, music and colour.
Outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank have been working with community groups and local artists throughout the past few months to help them perfect their parade routines and to make the fabulous parade floats that Manchester Day is famous for.
The spotlight for the return of Manchester Day this year is fixed on children and young people as part of the city's year-long, 2022 'Our Year' campaign, as Manchester works towards becoming a UNICEF recognised child-friendly city. Event organisers are asking the city's children and young people to look out for Little Amal and be ready to 'extend the hand of friendship to her', and show her the true spirit of Manchester and how the city likes to celebrate.
Young people themselves are playing a big part in all aspects of this year's Manchester Day. As well as helping make some of the costumes and parade floats, taking part in the parade itself, singing, dancing, and helping to choreograph it, young people have also been given the special job of curating all the activity on the day that will take place in the event space on Piccadilly Gardens.
Councillor Pat Karney, Chair of Manchester Day, said: "Manchester Day is the city's way of celebrating everything we love about our incredibly diverse city and all its brilliant communities ,who together help make Manchester the best place in the world to be. And this time we're dedicating it specially to all our children and young people who we know had such a rubbish time and missed out on so much during the pandemic.
"After an absence of three years since the city was last able to get together and celebrate, this year's will be the best - magical, musical, magnificent and unmissable! We're honoured also to have Little Amal with us this year, joining families and children as our iconic Manchester Day Parade makes its way through the city, and can't wait to show her some Manchester love to hold in her heart and take with her on the next leg of her important journey."
"This year, we're focusing on the contribution of children and young people to our city, and the future of our planet - so we're delighted to welcome Little Amal, one of the city’s most famous children, to the celebration," added Liz Pugh, Walk the Plank’s Creative Producer. "And she will take the spirit of Manchester’s youth with her as she sets off on her next journey at the start of Refugee Week."
Keep up with all the Manchester Day news at the official twitter - @Manc_Day , Instagram- @manchesterday and join the conversation using #manchesterday. Also visit the Manchester City Council TikTok page for an exclusive behind the scenes look at all the amazing work taking place at workshops in the city to help create the Manchester Day magic.
To get the latest email updates from the Manchester Evening News, click here .
