Roll up, roll up, the circus is coming to town for this year's Lord Mayor's Celebration and you are invited to join the show.
Applications are now open for groups to sign up for a float in Norwich's annual Lord Mayor's Procession which will this year take place on Saturday, July 7 and have a circus theme.
The procession - which usually involves about 2,000 people and attracts audiences of about 25,000 - is described as Norwich's biggest street party and is one of the highlights of the annual Lord Mayor's Celebration weekend.
The 2018 procession theme ties in with the fact that Norwich, along with Great Yarmouth, is one of the six Cities of Circus that will this year be the focus of the Circus250 anniversary celebrations.
Organisations are being encouraged to be as imaginative as possible with their floats and there will be prizes for the entries which most impress the judges.
Helen Selleck, Norwich City Council's culture and events manager, said: 'This year's procession theme is 'the circus comes to town' as this is the year we are celebrating Circus 250. It can relate to the telling of a story, be it old or new, real or make believe.
'We encourage you to tell your own story which can be as fantastical, far-fetched or funny as you like. Stories can be from the past, present or future. The choice is yours! And you can plan ahead by submitting your entry form now.'
Norwich's role in the Circus250 celebrations highlights the city's circus heritage, including Norwich being the birthplace of Pablo Fanque, the first black British circus proprietor and whose circus was among the most popular in Victorian Britain. Nowadays the city is home to the circus company Lost in Translation.
Great Yarmouth also has a proud circus history, including being home to the historic Hippodrome Circus which is Britain's only surviving total circus building and was built in 1903 by legendary circus showman George Gilbert. Great Yarmouth-based SeaChange Arts is also a big circus champion and each September presents the Out There International Festival of Circus and Street Arts.
Applications to sign up for a Lord Mayor's Procession float are now open and will close on June 15. For more information and to sign up for a float, visit www.norwich.gov.uk/LMP
You can also email events@norwich.gov.uk or call 01603 212871.
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