City party show to go with a bang

Jul 26 2007 by Jessica Shaughnessy, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL’S biggest ever fireworks display will be the grand finale of a packed weekend of celebrations to mark the city’s 800th birthday.

Fireworks will be let off from the top of many of Liverpool’s historic landmarks as part of a city-wide spectacle which can be seen from across Merseyside.

The display will round off a weekend of birthday celebrations, over the August Bank Holiday, which includes a city centre pageant featuring more than 800 performers.

Organisers are still fine-tuning the details of the fireworks show, which will cost well over the £20,000 spent on last year’s New Year’s Eve display that took place a week later due to bad weather.

The skies above the city will light up as the fireworks are set off after the sun sets over the Mersey on Tuesday, August 28.

Culture Company chief executive Jason Harborow said: “This will be the most spectacular fireworks display the city has ever seen. It’s difficult to think of another city in the world, which has done anything like it.

“There will be vantage points across the city as we are trying to involve as many landmarks as possible. It will be an impressive feat.”

Festivities will get under way with the start of the Mathew Street Music Festival on Sunday, August 26, which will feature three outdoor stages on the Strand and Derby Square.

On Bank Holiday Monday, an extra four stages will be added to host a range of new music and tribute bands.

Liverpool’s communities will also get involved with the birthday celebrations with more than 300 street parties across the city.

The official party starts at 11am on Tuesday as the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress lead dignitaries from around the world on a civic procession from Liverpool Parish Church to the Town Hall.

As the procession draws to a close, the pageant, which will involve hundreds of Merseysiders, will begin outside St George’s Hall with the presentation of the Liverpool Giant.

Councillor Mike Storey, executive member for the city’s birthday celebrations, said: “We want as many people as possible to take part in the festivities over the Bank Holiday weekend.“

jessicashaughnessy