Celebrate the launch weekend of Manchester International Festival by lining the Deansgate mile to witness a free, spectacular and uniquely Mancunian procession through the city centre working with diverse groups of people drawn from the 10 boroughs of Manchester, created by Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller.
Procession will last approximately 1 hour and will start at the Liverpool Road end of Deansgate, finishing at Manchester Cathedral. Expect the noise, the colour and the excitement of a typical parade – but with a Mancunian twist.
Here are just a few of the things to look out for:
- From Bolton: The Black Out Crew with their latest track, specially composed for a fleet of modified cars.
- From Trafford: a centenary celebration of Stretford’s extraordinary Rose Queens.
- From Tameside: the Stalybridge brass band marking their 200th anniversary with a commemoration of the Peterloo Massacre.
- From Oldham: a musical tribute to the world’s first fish and chip shop.
- From Bury: the legendary Valerie’s market café recreated in all its glory.
- And from all over Greater Manchester: the largest ever gathering of local sporting mascots.
Families
Procession is suitable for families and children and will contain loud music, floats and vehicles. We recommend Great Northern Square as a suitable family viewing place where the Lost Children service will also be based.
Disabled Access
Disabled viewing bays will be positioned next to John Rylands Library.
Sign up at www.manchesterprocession.com to upload your photos and clips of past processions and parades from across Greater Manchester.
Procession – An Exhibition will run between Thu 9 July – Sun 23 August, documenting the procession itself and the ideas that informed its creation.
“I love processions – as humans, it’s almost part of our DNA to be instinctively attracted to big public events that bring us together. A good procession is in itself a public artwork: part self-portrait and part alternative reality.” Jeremy Deller
Watch the video below for the BBC’s sneak preview of some of the participating groups: