Thousands of people turned out to soak up the carnival atmosphere of the Lord Mayor’s Celebration over the weekend.
Brazilian, Cuban and English-themed dancer groups helped give a colourful and eclectic feel to this year’s procession – the centrepiece of the city’s four-day festival – which snaked its way through the streets on Saturday evening.
Lord Mayor of Norwich, Councillor Eve Collishaw, the City of Norwich Pipe Band, Norwich city crier David Bullock and the traditional Snap the dragon and Whifflers led the parade as excited families cheered and waved flags along the route from Newmarket Road to Tombland.
They were followed by 43 floats and 21 walking groups that included children from schools across the city who danced, walked on stilts, balanced on balls and did handstands and cartwheels.
Helen Selleck, events manager for Norwich City Council, says: “The crowds were fantastic and we had a record turnout. We estimate that 25,000 people went along to Chapelfield Gardens on Saturday. Every year this event gets bigger - it just keeps on growing.
“Everyone had a great time, even when it rained on the comedy show on Thursday night. The carnival was absolutely spectacular to watch and the entries were stunning, which made it extremely hard to judge.”
A wooden pirate ship, complete with sound effects and belching smoke, proved a swashbuckling success by winning first prize for Catton Grove Primary School and In Touch Systems.
Second place - Norca (Norwich & Norfolk Community Arts) - Back to the Streets walking float
Third place - Busy Bodies Theatre Group - Alice in Wonderland
Runners up: Priscilla Bacon Lodge - Dancing Queens; St Edmunds Society - cowboys/western; Yvonne School of Dance - dance troop.
Special mention: Bystanders Theatre Group, which has been consistently brilliant in all the years it has taken part in the procession, will be presented with a special prize in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour in the very near future.
Pictures from this year’s procession and festival can be found here or at Norwich City Council events Facebook page.