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Over
140 shops - plus the stunning new Selfridges and Debenhams department
stores will be open for your shopping pleasure from 10am on Thursday
4th September 2003.
Throughout
the course of the day a host of different performers will be entertaining
visitors in the Bullring streets and malls.
| What's
happening on the day? |
Birmingham聮s
many cultural communities are combining to create a spectacular
festival of sound and rhythm.
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| Latin
Carnival dancer |
Carnival
Atmosphere
Mel
Evans, Bullring Marketing & PR Manager for The Birmingham Alliance
said:
"We
were keen to inject a real feeling of community and diversity into
launch day so the carnival theme will focus on Birmingham as a vibrant
multicultural city 聳 with Bullring as the star of the show.
"The
Mardi Gras atmosphere will continue with a massive and colourful
parade at midday. This amazing musical and dance procession will
travel though the heart of the city, starting from Victoria Square,
to culminate in a grand climax in St Martin聮s Square at the
heart of Bullring. It will be quite an experience."
The
300-strong parade will include dancers and musicians representative
across the spectrum of Birmingham聮s cultural mix:
 South
American Carnival Dancers
Chinese
Dragon Dancers
African
Drummers
Irish
Pipers
Mobile
Steel Band
Bronze
Bull unveiling
A ten
second countdown of silence will lead into an introductory drum
roll to mark the unveiling of the massive bronze bull sculpture
in Rotunda Square.
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| Bronze
bull |
The
five tonnes, twice-life size sculpture commissioned to herald Bullring聮s
place in Birmingham聮s regeneration, is one of the largest bronze
animal sculptures to have been created in the UK. The unveiling
will cue the opening of the new shops at Bullring - with all retailers
opening their doors for the first time on the stroke of 10.00 a.m.
At
midday The Lord Mayor will signal the start of the parade in Victoria
Square. Over the next half an hour the 300-strong, themed parade
will make its way to St Martin聮s Square in a celebration of
the music and costumes of the cultures of Birmingham.
From
midday to 7.00 pm a series of cross-cultural music and dance acts
will take place on stage in Bullring聮s central performance
area in St Martin聮s Square - from Bhangra and Salsa, to Limbo,
African and Flamenco.
The
day聮s festivities will conclude with a performance of bell
ringing from St Martin聮s Church.
For details on how to get to the Bullring and parking, see the official
Bullring website, .
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