When the South Tyneside Parade gets under way this weekend, spectators will have no difficulty in spotting one stand-out float that's a load of old junk.
Closer inspection of this particular display, being described by organisers as "an intriguing sculpture", will reveal a mix of plastic milk bottles, drinks cans and crisp packets. The float has been made entirely of recycled rubbish and all will be revealed when the parade makes its return in South Shields on Saturday for the first time in two years.
The event is a traditional highlight of the South Tyneside Festival which will run for three months with a free programme of music and family entertainment. This Sunday's events will feature attractions at Sandhaven Promenade from noon to 3pm, including sea shanties, an interactive circus and Jurassic Live!, a selection of dinosaur skeleton puppets up to 20ft tall which are created by North East-based The Living Fossil Company and include velociraptors and a T Rex.
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Ahead of that the colourful carnival-theme parade will leave South Shields Town Hall on Saturday at 12.30pm with more than 30 groups in all taking part.
Creative Seed, the company which stages it, has been gathering plastic for the recycled exhibit which it expects to surprise onlookers. Garner Harris, from the company, said: “We have been working on it for a very long time and it’s been a long job to collect all the materials but I think everyone will agree the results are fantastic.”
Recycling is a theme throughout the parade which makes use of reused products and fabrics wherever possible and Garner says this year's floats are the best ever. Also among them will be a neon flower-theme one showcasing a field of moving flowers, a carnival peacock and a huge piece complementing the colourful carnival costumes.
Garner added: “These are definitely the best floats that we’ve ever had in the parade. We think everyone will be totally blown away when they see them.”
From the town hall, the parade will follow a route along Fowler Street down to Ocean Road and then on to Sea Road and finally Bents Park where the entertainment will continue, with live music, dance performances, an aerial act, interactive walkabout characters, craft stalls, children’s crafts and face painting.
Bents Park will also host free concerts during the festival's run. Coun Joan Atkinson, deputy leader of South Tyneside Council which organises the festival, said: “The parade is always a great event. It will be a great day after an absence of two years and an opportunity for all the community to come together.” For the full festival programme see here.
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