Little Amal puppet is coming back to our city for the huge Manchester Day parade

Manchester Day organisers have revealed that Little Amal will be making her grand return to the city as part of an epic parade.

The 3.5 metre-tall walking puppet first arrived in Manchester late last year as part of Manchester International Festival’s ‘The Walk’, a travelling festival of art and hope in support of refugees.

Little Amal represents all displaced children, many of which have been separated from their families while fleeing war, and embodies the urgent message ‘don’t forget about us’.

Amal began her journey at the Turkish-Syrian border in July last year and eventually arrived in Manchester on November 3rd, where she was greeted with a huge parade and ceremony at Castlefield Bowl.

And now, the puppet has been confirmed to be making her return as part of the huge Manchester Day parade on Sunday June 19th.

Manchester Day was created in 2010 with the aim to celebrate the city’s creativity and diversity, and has since become one of the North West’s flagship events of the summer.

Read More: The Manchester Day Parade is BACK for the first time in two years

This year, the city centre will be ‘buzzing all day long’, with plenty of things to see and do, as well as making sure the iconic Manchester Day Parade – full of music, colour, and dance – is the most memorable yet, following a two year hiatus thanks to the Covid pandemic.

The Chair of Manchester Day Councillor Pat Karney said on the return of the event: “Manchester Day is the city’s way of celebrating everything we love about our incredibly diverse city and all its brilliant communities, who together help make Manchester the best place in the world to be.

Mark Waugh / Manchester City Council

“And this time we’re dedicating it specially to all our children and young people who we know had such a rubbish time and missed out on so much during the pandemic.

“We’re honoured also to have Little Amal with us this year, joining families and children as our iconic Manchester Day Parade makes its way through the city, and can’t wait to show her some Manchester love to hold in her heart and take with her on the next leg of her important journey.”

 Liz Pugh, Walk the Plank’s Creative Producer, added: “This year, we’re focusing on the contribution of children and young people to our city, and the future of our planet – so we’re delighted to welcome Little Amal to the celebration.”