Brighton Festival 2009

The Children's Parade

By Jennifer Drury

The Children's Parade, organised by community arts group Same Sky, exploded onto the streets this weekend for Brighton Festival's colourful and show-stopping curtain raiser.  This popular event is now in its 19th successive year and has attracted a bumper number of participants.

70 local schools involved
More than 4,000 participants of all ages from 70 local schools and community groups entertained and delighted an estimated 10,000 onlookers.  The theme was chosen to tie in with one of guest artistic director Anish Kapoor's major artistic preoccupations with the four classical elements - earth, air, fire and water.

Dancing in the streets
A combination of  fantastic visual creations and the infectious samba beat certainly pleased the crowds and had them dancing in the streets. The parade began in Sydney Street and progressed, via New Road and East Street. The event  concluded with a beachfront finale at Madeira Drive.