New Year in London this 2010
Are you in London this Christmas and New Years? Do you know what you’re going to be doing to welcome in the New Year? Now you do, because London is hosting their annual New Years Day Parade and Festival, one of the world’s greatest street spectaculars and the biggest event of its kind in the world, on Saturday the 1st of January which comprises a huge procession with thousands of people attending, festive activities, and fun in the British Capital.
Londoners are starting out their New Year as they mean to go on, with a party! This fabulous event comprises a parade filled with marching bands, cheerleaders, clowns, acrobats, balloons, and much more! Furthermore, given that 2011’s celebration is the 25th edition of this event, it promises to be a good one. It will be kicking off at 12 noon on Berkeley Street, outside the Ritz Hotel and scouring the city until it finally culminates at Parliament Street around 3 pm. More than 10,000 performers representing 20 countries world-wide will be assembling for the parade, and following last year’s success more than half a million festival-goers are expected to line London’s famous and prestigious streets to see this fantastic spectacular as it weaves its way along the two mile route.
It really is a thrilling and exciting event for viewers and even more so if you want to take part. Imagine receiving the ecstatic appreciation of half a million people on the jam-packed historic streets of Westminster cheering you on, and having your performance televised and broadcast by over 700 television stations around the world to an audience of nearly 220 million people. Furthermore, imagine the satisfaction of taking part in an event that raises tens of thousands of pounds for charity each year. If you can, then check out how you can become part of the New Year’s Day parade as locals from the London Boroughs are welcomed to take part as a means of demonstrating something special or unique of that particular place in the British capital. International participation is also welcomed, and comprises a very special part of the parade as the contribution of music and dance from overseas music and dance groups is fabulous and one of the things that makes the event the unique, diverse, entertaining, fascinating, and historic Parade that it is.
In addition, to the thrill and satisfaction in taking part and doing your bit for charity, there is a competition between the diverse London Boroughs called the “Let’s help London Challenge”, and given that there are so many wonderfully diverse and exciting areas in London, this has undoubtedly become one of the highlights of the festival. The winning Borough will win £7.500 for their chosen charity, a clear indication of the quality of their participation.
Finally, as part of the event, a number of concerts will be celebrated in some of the most prestigious venues around London comprising the “Music for London Gala”. The various concerts will be kicking off on the 29th of December 2011 in Cadogan Hall and concluding on the 3rd of January 2011 in the stunning St Augustine’s Church. Tickets will be on sale as of October and for further information on all these events, check out the website.
So, what was once a humble affair back in 1987, is now a colossal event that even receives support from Queen Elizabeth II herself. It is a feast of entertainment for all the family, and a real razzmatazz on the streets of London with its on average half a million street-side audience. So if you’re in London this New Years, start it the right way and head down to this unrivalled parade, because you’d be mad to miss out!
