All that glitters is gold at the Mayor’s Parade

Gold-gilded SERC students Noela and Rebecca are joined by the Mayor of Lisburn, Councillor Andrew Ewing and Alderman Paul Porter, Chair of Leisure Lisburn City Council who are looking forward to welcoming thousands of people to the City of Lisburn Mayor’s Carnival Parade and Family Fun Day later this month.

The streets of Lisburn will be paved with gold when top carnival performers, magnificent floats, towering sculptures, dancers and tantalizing musical rhythms bring the city alive in a mass of glittering movement, sound and colour.

The Carnival Parade is Lisburn’s most famous street party. “And everyone is invited,” said the Mayor of Lisburn, Councillor Andrew Ewing.

“This year’s Gold theme celebrates 50 years of Lisburn as a Borough and then a City. I am thrilled to welcome hundreds of Lisburn’s residents and visitors to what will be a golden, magical experience for the whole family and a cultural explosion of music as well as visual and performing arts.”

The success of Mayor’s Carnival Parade is down to a dynamic combination of people, talent and ideas. The spectacular carnival parade will be an inspiring celebration featuring international carnival artistes alongside home grown performers. Hundreds of school children and community groups will proudly weave their addictive dance routines throughout the pageant.

The colourful masqueraders have been busy making carnival structures and costumes for the celebrations through ISLAND Arts Centre Carnival Workshops in association with the award winning ArtsEkta and StreetWise.

The project is supported by Lisburn City Council’s Good Relations Programme which receives financial support from the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister.

“What better way to celebrate a golden era in Lisburn’s civic history than by coming together through the colour, infectious music, passion and creative flair of carnival,” said Alderman Paul Porter, Chair of Leisure of Lisburn City Council.

“This event is just one part of our many ambitious plans for arts and culture in Lisburn City. Carnival is extremely popular so choose your preferred spot early.”

Carnival begins at 1pm at Lagan Valley ISLAND and flows through Lisburn City Centre via Queen’s Road, Linenhall Street, Smithfield Street, Market Place, Market Street, Bachelors Walk, Railway Street, Castle Street and Seymour before returning to Lagan Valley ISLAND via Queen’s Road, where even more family fun-filled entertainment take place until 5.30pm. Attractions include a Fun Fair, Punch and Judy Magic Show, Crafts, Face painting, Bouncy Castle, Elvis Tribute and the StevieK Band, arena acts by Trialstar, Boxing and the popular Dog Show, while Lisburn Paddlers, Lisburn Angling Club and the Sea Cadets take to the Lagan.

Revellers are asked to please note the change of route and to select their viewing point early. Please allow for some traffic disruption as some delays are possible.

Besides being one of the most lively events of the year, the carnival also serves a worthy cause as funds raised from this year’s event will go to the Mayoral Charity, Marie Curie Cancer Care.

For further information check out islandartscentre.com, Facebook.com/ISLANDArtsCentre and Twitter.com/ISLANDartsbiz.