Choirs, bands, poets, world champion beatboxers and the best of local talents will offer entertainment across the city during this year’s Lord Mayor’s Weekend, from 7-9 July.
The programme for the weekend, which will include an exciting and eclectic line-up of music and spoken word performances on two stages, is announced and promises a feast for the senses with the sights, sounds, voices and tastes of the city showing off the very best that Norwich and Norfolk have to offer.
The weekend will kick off on Friday 7 July with a free workshop in Chapelfield Gardens for families to make their own musical instruments from recycled materials, while in the evening there will be a Mysabar evening social featuring Marvel DJs and Leon & Gav Play Records.
Saturday 8 July provides the major attraction of the weekend with one of the oldest mayoral processions in the country. This year, the Lord Mayor’s Procession takes the theme of Sights of the City and will move off from Surrey Street at 3pm, wending its way through the city streets to the Cathedral. Expect a carnival atmosphere and community spirit with local organisations, community groups and businesses alongside acrobats, samba dancers and tumblers for a colourful display.
From mid-day onwards, there will be full programmes of performance on two stages. The Sounds of the City stage will open in Chapelfield Gardens from 12 noon as Wild Paths presents a festival line-up headed up by modern jazz performer Oscar Jerome who hails from Norfolk, The Nimbus Sextet and New Movement Ensemble; while on the Community Showcase stage there will be a collaboration with The Garage and Young Norfolk Arts Trust featuring contemporary dance, circus, choirs and musicians. There will also be a chance to race against your friends in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Norwich Theatre Royal’s giant video screens.
Running at the same time at City Hall, the Voices of the City stage will see a wide-ranging programme of poetry, singing and an appearance by world beatbox champions Beatbox Collective. The programme also features Invidia Voices Choir, Robin Evans Esq. and the Norwich Jnr MCs, while superstar poet Luke Wright will be heading up some sparkling spoken word performances which will include a Toast Poetry presentation with contributions from Lewis Buxton, Jess Morgan, Mathilda Arminger, Shannon Clinton-Copeland and Daisy Henwood.
Toasties Poetry will present the Family Poetry Show with Arji Manuelpillai, Ashley Hickson-Lovence and Poppy Stevens.
Throughout the day there will be a range of food vendors in the Tastes of the City area of Chapelfield Gardens who will be offering a smorgasboard of tasty delights from Norwich’s finest foodtrucks, featuring Louisiana deep filled baguettes, Asian style Chicken, Bao Buns, Oysters and much more!
Other activities will include Family Workshops, Make Your Own Instruments, Circus Acts, Carnival Dress Up and Photo Booth, and a traditional Funfair.
Funds raised during these events will go to the Lord Mayor and Sheriff’s civic charity appeal for 2023-24, the Norfolk Community Foundation.
The celebrations will continue on Sunday 9 July with the popular and crowd-drawing Great Norwich Duck Race which will see hundreds of decorated ducks battling it out on the River Wensum from 2pm. The event is organised by the 1st Norwich Sea Scout Volunteers in conjunction with the Lord Mayor of Norwich celebrations, and funds raised go to participating scout groups and projects, with a donation to the Lord Mayor’s charity and East Anglia Children’s Hospices (EACH).
The Norwich Lanes Summer Fayre also returns on 9 July from 11am to 5pm to celebrate this unique area of the city with its historic streets and eclectic mix of shops and businesses. Run by the Norwich Lanes Association (NLA), the day offers live music, pop up markets, DJ sets, street food courts, theatre, performance, workshops and more, with printed fayre guides, which include a map, available on the day.
Councillor Cate Oliver, cabinet member for wellbeing and culture at Norwich City Council, said:
“We’ve put together a packed programme of carnival entertainment for everyone to enjoy over the Lord Mayor’s Weekend.
“It’s an opportunity to sample all the sights, sounds, tastes and voices of Norwich and Norfolk for our residents and visitors alike. We can’t wait to celebrate all that’s good in our fine city, and invite you to join us.”
For more information about the weekend, see www.norwich.gov.uk/lmw or follow on www.facebook.com/LordMayorsNorwich/
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