Lord Mayor’s Celebration signals carnival time!

Colourful floats, world-class street performers, fireworks and amazing children’s events will take over Norwich for four whole days – and it’s all free.

The Lord Mayor’s Celebration gets bigger and better every year and city council events organisers have put together a programme for all the family from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 July.

As ever, the centrepiece for the carnival will be the Lord Mayor’s Street Procession, which will see more than 50 floats and performing groups wind their way through Norwich on Saturday, July 5. It sets off from St Stephens Road at 5pm.

All proceeds from the historic parade will go to this year’s civic charity Cruse Bereavement.

This year’s festival will be kicked off with a charity fashion show by students at Norwich School on Thursday, July 3. Part of the Young Norfolk Arts Festival, the night of high fashion and music is being staged at OPEN.

Brenda Arthur, leader of the council and cabinet member for culture and sport, said: “Norwich feels like it is alive with incredible events all the time and the Lord Mayor’s Celebration is one of my real favourites. Not only are the events of the highest quality, they are also free, which is so important these days.”

This year’s other LMC highlights include:

Crude Apache Theatre open-air shows. Heigham Park on Friday 7.30-9pm; Castle Gardens, Sunday 3-4.30pm.

Forum Stage, Millennium Plain, Saturday 12noon-4.30pm and 6-10.15pm.

Fantastic street theatre in the city, Saturday 1-4pm and 6-10pm.

Lord Mayor’s 5km Road Race, from Agricultural Hall Plan, Saturday 4.50pm.

Fireworks display from Norwich Castle, Saturday, 10.30pm.

The Norwich Lanes Summer Fayre, Sunday, 11am-6pm.

Great Norwich Duck Race, from Lady Julian Bridge, Sunday at 12noon.

Picnic And Play, St George’s Green (near Norwich Playhouse), Sunday 12noon-4pm.