What’s the WORD ON THE STREET for Manchester Day?

The UK’s biggest community celebration will return on Sunday 17 June and organisers are now accepting applications for groups to be part of the show of the summer.

Each year Manchester Day transforms the city centre with a cacophony of colour, sound and artistry – and this year will be no exception as the event celebrates the city with the theme “Word on the Street”.

Commissioned by Manchester City Council and brought to life by outdoor art specialists Walk the Plank, this year’s event will celebrate the diversity and community across the city, which is a huge part of Manchester’s history, present and future. It’s an opportunity for Manchester people to come together and listen to what people across the city are saying.

Manchester Day is a chance to remind ourselves what the word on the street was one hundred years ago when the Suffragettes were fighting to get votes for women; or the streets around the city’s universities as some of history’s greatest discoveries were being made; or the streets of the industrial revolution during the birth of the world’s first modern city.

More than 2,000 people parade through the street each Manchester Day in celebration of everything that makes the city a brilliant place to work, live and visit, while the Squares across town become pop-up venues for the day showcasing the talents of the best performers from across the region. Unbeatable street food and drink tops is the cherry on the cake.

Every float, artwork, prop and costume is made completely by hand and organisers are also looking for an army of creative people to volunteer right up to the event to create the spectacle in June.

Even if you’re not part of a group, The WOW Crowd gives individuals a chance to take part, which is a great opportunity to meet people, work with artists, musicians and performers, and be part of a fantastic day of community celebration.

If you want to apply to be part of Manchester Day 2018 please apply at: www.manchesterday.co.uk/participate-perform/

Deadline for applications is Monday 5 February.

Manchester Day is about bringing people together and as many people as possible are encouraged to apply. However, entry cannot always be guaranteed due to the popularity of the event.

Cllr Pat Karney, Chair of Manchester Day, said: “Manchester Day has grown and grown in the past few years and we are incredibly excited to be able to invite people to be part of the show in June. Tens of thousands of people turn out each Manchester Day to cheer on the parade and enjoy the entertainment in the city centre, and this is your chance to be part of the show of the year.”

Cllr Luthur Rahman, Manchester City Council’s executive member for culture and leisure, said: “Manchester is an incredibly diverse and exciting place to live and this event is a celebration of everything that makes our city special. It’s always fantastic to see communities come together on the day and remember that we are only as strong as the sum of our parts.”

Liz Pugh, Walk the Plank co-founder and Manchester Day producer, said: “For our 9th Manchester Day we’re delighted to be exploring Manchester’s reputation as a vocal and pioneering voice at so many key points in history, and the way in which it has given confidence to so many different groups of people and sections of society.  We’re looking forward to a wide range of interpretations on this exciting theme which we think will resonate with people of all ages.”