Celebrate Aberdeen returns for 2018

08/02/2018

Organisers of Celebrate Aberdeen have urged groups from across the city to sign up to what they hope will be their largest parade along Union Street this year.

As well as local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups, musicians and city sports groups have been invited to take part in the event which will be held on Saturday, August 25.

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More than 150 organisations took part in the celebratory parade last year and organisers would like to hear from as many as possible before the cut-off date for registration on Friday, April 27.

The parade was first held in 2011 and has brought together more than 3,500 people from 130 diverse third sector organisations for each event in recent years.

City charity Aberdeen Play Forum was also recently chosen by the Celebrate Aberdeen board to receive £2,500 which was collected during the Union Street parade last year.

Former Lord Provost of Aberdeen, George Adam, is on the Celebrate Aberdeen board and paid a visit to Aberdeen Play Forum to hand over the funding which will be used to run two celebration events in 2018 which promise to be extremely popular with the children and young people of Aberdeen.

The ‘Play on the Longest Day’ event will be held on June 21 where school pupils are invited to enjoy outdoor activities and there is also a free public session.

The charity’s ‘National Play Day’ event will be held on August 1 and it is their largest event of the year. In 2017, it attracted more than 600 children and their families who participated in woodland crafts, Zumba fitness, loose parts play, an inflatable obstacle course and other activities.

Karen Shepherd, Play Development Officer at Aberdeen Play Forum, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured this funding for our main events this year and we’re very grateful to be the recipient of the Celebrate Aberdeen street collection fund.

“This will ensure that two very popular play days which attract so many children and families from across Aberdeen will go ahead this year, which is especially pleasing in this, the ‘Year of Young People.”

George Adam added: “Celebrate Aberdeen is a fantastic event, which provides an excellent platform for local third sector, organisations and clubs to promote their work in a carnival atmosphere.

“I was delighted to pay a visit to Aberdeen Play Forum to hand over funds raised during the Union Street parade last year which will cover the cost of two of the charity’s largest events in 2018.

“The city has many third sector organisations, which provide first-rate services because of the dedication of their volunteers. It is only right that we give them the recognition they deserve.”

Morven Mackenzie, the leading force behind Celebrate Aberdeen, said: “Preparations are well underway for this year’s event already which we hope will build on the success of last year. To ensure that it does, we need as many third sector groups, sports groups and musicians as possible to sign up.

“The organisations that are on board already are remarkable in the work they carry out, and being able to offer them an opportunity to celebrate and gather support is great. We are delighted to have another parade this year and we are working on plans for activities and performances throughout the weekend, which will be fun for all the family.”

Organisations that wish to take part in the Celebrate Aberdeen celebratory parade can sign-up at: www.celebrateaberdeen.org

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