One of the world’s biggest ever birthday parties is being held in the North East this weekend – and everyone is invited.
More than 2000 people will take to the streets of South Shields on Saturday (July 4) to celebrate 150 years since the publication of Alice in Wonderland.
The South Tyneside Festival Summer Parade, sponsored by Careline Lifestyles, will feature colourful characters from Lewis Carroll’s classic tale, including the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter and Alice herself, as well as a disco diva Queen of Hearts.
Live music will be heard throughout the event, with The Military Marching Band and electric string trio, Silken Strings, both riding on one of the parade’s six, spectacular floats.
Members of youth and community groups from across South Tyneside will also be taking part, wearing a host of themed costumes and props that have been created in special workshops over the past few months
The Summer Parade, organised by South Tyneside Council, will set off from South Shields Town Hall at around1pm, travelling along Fowler Street, Ocean Road and Sea Road to its final destination at Bents Park.
Once there spectators can enjoy an afternoon of free entertainment, including family activities and live performances by acts such as Scarlett Street and the parade’s Queen of Hearts, Jayne McKenzie, who will be singing a host of Kylie songs supported by 14 young dancers.
The Summer Parade’s artistic director, designer Paul Shriek, said: “This will be the biggest parade ever to be held in South Tyneside and we’ve spent months making sure everything is right.
“Lewis Carroll has strong links to the region and we hope he would have found Saturday’s event to be a fitting and memorable tribute to Alice in Wonderland.”
The Alice in Wonderland themed parade, which is free to attend, forms part of a wider programme of entertainment and activities making up the South Tyneside Festival 2015.
Other highlights in the three-month schedule, organised annually by South Tyneside Council, include open air concerts in Bents Park headlined by 5ive and Atomic Kitten (July 12), Billy Ocean (July 19), Sophie Ellis Bextor and The Feeling (July 26) and North East stars Collabro, Joe McElderry and Lola Saunders (August 2).
The Mayor of South Tyneside, Councillor Richard Porthouse, said: “The Summer Parade is a centrepiece of the South Tyneside Festival 2015 and we are delighted that so many people from across South Tyneside are taking part.
“I can’t wait to see the streets filled with the sights and sounds of our biggest and most colourful parade and, even more so, for Lewis Carroll’s wonderful characters to be brought to life.”
For more information and full listings for the South Tyneside Festival 2015 go to www.visitsouthtyneside.co.uksearch for South Tyneside Events on Facebook, follow STynesideEvents on Twitter or call the South Tyneside Visitor Information Centre on 0191 424 7788.