The huge Manchester Day parade is SCRAPPED - in favour of day and night event in the city

The Manchester Day parade that has been a popular fixture in the city centre since 2010 is being scrapped for 2023. Manchester council has revealed big changes to the annual celebration this year to become a Manchester Day and Night event instead.

The parade had been the focal element of previous Manchester Day events in the city, which is traditionally held in June. It has been a chance for hundreds of people to parade and dance through the city in colourful celebration of their communities, while thousands line the streets to cheer them on.

The council made an announcement on Friday night that Manchester Day would be "bigger and better than ever this year with a brand new format". Part of the "revamp" means pulling the parade element, as well as moving the date to later in the summer, on Saturday, July 29 this year, when it will run from 12noon to 9pm.

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The council statement said: "The event, which promises to be a great start to the school summer holidays, will for the first time, instead of including a parade, be extending its hours until well into the evening." It added the event will be a "special night city celebration, filled with music and more."

The traditional Manchester Day parade made a grand return in 2022 after a two year absence due to the coronavirus pandemic. It saw thousands lining Deansgate to cheer on the 1,300 participants in floats and in dancing and walking entries.

It is understood that council bosses this year felt an all-day and night celebration of Manchester would be "better than a parade that's all over in an hour". They have promised that the streets will be filled with live music, pop-up performances,