Tens of thousands of people are expected on the streets of Derry on St Patrick's Day for the Spring Carnival parade.
The flamboyant and colourful procession through the city centre on Friday, on the theme of "recycle and renewal", is the centrepiece in a day of spring carnival activities.
Traditional music and performances will take place all afternoon in Guildhall Square, the Craft Village, the Guildhall’s Main Hall and the Peace Garden, Derry City and Strabane council say.
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Interactive activities and arts and crafts will also be going on in Waterloo Place.
A council spokesperson said: "The programme also features a 24-hour buskathon by local performers in Guildhall Square in aid of Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Councillor Sandra Duffy’s chosen charity First Housing Aid and Support Services beginning at 6pm on Friday and concluding on Saturday evening.
Dance groups and other community organisations are coming together for the parade that will use the main elements of nature: fire, air, earth and water to creatively highlight the significance of recycling and reusing, reducing waste and the positive impact this can have on our environment for future generations."
The Mayor, Sandra Duffy, said: "The Spring Carnival parade is one I’ve been particularly looking forward to and I can’t wait to take part with the hundreds of talented performers and thousands of spectators who will line the route,” said Mayor Duffy who will lead the parade with St Patrick himself.
“The Recycle and Renewal theme of the parade represents the new beginnings that Spring brings and is an opportune time to remind people that everyone has a part to play in protecting our environment by making a collective effort to reduce waste and recycle responsibly."
She added: “There’s activity and entertainment all around the city centre so get onto derrystrabane.com/springcarnival now and plan your experience.”
A stage at Guildhall Square will play host to some of the best local traditional Irish musicians from 1pm to 6pm while some of the city’s Legenderry Food Network will be offering home grown street food to enjoy during the performances.
From 1pm – 6pm Studio 2 performers will transform the Peace Garden into the Magical Land of the Fairies where children can make a wish on the fairy tree and dance until their feet are sore.
A pageant dance and drama performance of A Tale of Fairies and Mystical Little Irish Folk will pay homage to the Ancient Magical King Brian.
In the Craft Village The Spring Fling by In Your Space Circus will invite people to shake off those winter blues with a mini-Carnival of Colours featuring a host of local musicians, incredible circus and street theatre shows and interactive performances.
Comedian and magician Jack Wise will be performing along with acrobatic duos the Cikada Circus and Hands Down Circus.
In Your Space Circus will also have Spring themed characters all around the city centre treating the public to performances of live music, spoken word, storytelling and street theatre.
The St Patrick's Day Spring Carnival Parade, led by the North West Carnival Initiative and local dance troops and youth organisations will depart from Bishop Street at 3pm and will make its way along Bishop Street to the Diamond before travelling down Shipquay Street and along Queen's Quay before ending at Strand Road Car Park.
Full details of the Spring Carnival Parade are available at www.derrystrabane.com/springcarnival.
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