LIVE from Manchester Day as festival returns after three years - latest updates

The Manchester Day parade makes its long-awaited return to the city centre this afternoon after a three-year hiatus.

Thousands of people are expected to descent upon Manchester for the epic day of music, dance, and expression. The parade, which starts on Deansgate at 1pm, is themed around Manchester's young people and will draw strongly on ideas of Mancunian identity.

After setting off at the crossroads with Liverpool Road, it will snake all the way up to the top of Deansgate, before turning on to St Mary's Gate (where Marks and Spencer is). It will then turn right onto Cross Street, past the Royal Exchange Theatre and King Street, before turning right onto John Dalton Street and then back down Deansgate where it is expected to arrive back to finish at 2.30pm.

READ MORE : Manchester Day 2022 - route, map, parade times and everything you need to know

The huge, 3.4 metre Little Amal puppet will join the parade at around 1.30pm. Other floats include a Queen Bee Gondola, the Pepper Moth, and one titled The Power of the Future.

Internationally acclaimed and award-winning production designer Dan Potra is the creative director behind this year's parade and his past work includes the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, three Commonwealth Games as well as production design on the opening of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Between 11am and 5pm, there will also be a range of activities, entertainment and installations on offer in Cathedral Gardens, Piccadilly Gardens and Exchange Square.

We will be covering Manchester Day live. Follow all the updates in the blog below.

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