Chapelfield Gardens was buzzing this afternoon as about 2,000 people got into the celebratory spirit before the big procession.
Families and thrill-seekers alike were enjoying the face painting, bracelet making, story telling, fairground rides, live music, a magic Heliosphere gliding through the sky and more in the run up to the main event.
The Lord Mayor's Celebration boasts one of the longest running processions outside of the capital and this year the Norwich Evening News and Eastern Daily Press float is set to return.
Despite the stormy skies, revellers from all over the county and beyond made Chapelfield Gardens their first destination of fun.
Sally Hutchinson, 39, from Norwich brought her mum and dad Jenny and Jim Hutchinson to the procession for the first time and said they went to Chapelfield to get in to the spirit of the day.
Miss Hutchinson said she could not believe her parents had lived in Norfolk for so many years and had not been Norwich's must-do event.
'I come every year and think it's amazing thing for the city. It's a cracking event and shows Norwich off as such a beautiful place to be,' she said.
Her boyfriend Paul Darwood, 51, praised Norwich City Council for the choice of free activities and live music on offer and said it is good value for tax-payers' money.
Over at the face-painting tent, dad of two Kevin Castle, 40, from Mile Cross, was watching his youngest son Alfie be transformed into a bright green dinosaur.
He said he brings the boys every year because of the variety of activities – and the low (and often free) price tag.
Face-painters said they made more than 50 children into the characters or animals they wanted.
Meanwhile it was the mini golf that was drawing the competitive side out of mums, dads, grandparents and youngsters alike.
Sharon and Darren Boyd travelled from Lowestoft with their children Georgia and Oscar for Go Crazy Golf and other games at the event.
Mr Boyd, 42, said the procession is on their diary every year and that going to Chapelfield Gardens is a perfect warm up to the fun and their highlights, the fireworks, later.
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