Manchester Day: City is buzzing as festival a hit and Little Amal makes long awaited return

After a long three years, Manchester Day has returned with a bang, a shimmy and plenty of buzz. Thousands crowded along Deansgate to celebrate everything about Manchester - and what a party it was.

After setting off at the crossroads with Liverpool Road, the parade snaked its way up to the top of Deansgate, before turning on to St Mary's Gate (where Marks and Spencer is). It then turned 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 finished at around 2.30pm.

From the Queen Bee leading the Parade to the bouncing babies in their oversized pram, nothing could top the incredible atmosphere of a city that has come together following numerous lockdowns and the COVID pandemic. The theme was ‘Our Year’, and focussed on the children and young people of Greater Manchester, who’ve helped bring the day into fruition.

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There was also extra emphasis on the environment and sustaining our natural world. On the 50 floats taking part there were magnificent butterflies, peppered moths and lots and lots of little bees.

Music emanated from every section of the parade including a fabulous steel band that got the crowd dancing, and the delightful drums of the British Pakistani Agricultural Society. Also joining in the party atmosphere were some brilliant dancing groups, who added to the festival vibes.

And making her long-awaited return was a crowd favourite - Little Amal. The 3.4 metre high puppet of a Syrian girl refugee left both adults and children in awe as she joined at Quay Street and made her way round the city centre.