Lord Mayor to end civic year with ‘green’ tourism parade

The Green Parade – so-called because no vehicles are allowed to take part – will be held in Hull city centre on Saturday May 21.

So far 16 organisations have signed up, but many more are expected. People can take part on foot, in a wheelchair, on roller skates, by bicycle, on stilts or any other “green” means.

The carnival will be one of the last major events to be led by the Lord Mayor of Hull, Coun David Gemmell, during his year in office.

Coun Gemmell, whose 23 year political life has been bound up with tourism – he was instrumental in the building of the Deep aquarium – and he has chosen tourism as this year’s theme. He said: “Going back to the late 1980s, early 1990s, tourism was worth about £50m to the economy, and it’s now around £250m, so it’s increased five-fold. We hope as many people as possible will take part in the parade and that they’ll come up with plenty of ingenious ‘green’ ways of travelling.”

The parade will depart from Hull College at 12 noon and then make its way along a mile-long route. It will travel past the Guildhall and along Lowgate, Silver Street, Whitefriagate, Beverley Gate, Carr Lane, South Street, Paragon Street, and Guildhall Road to finish back at the College around an hour later. There will also be plenty of entertainment on offer as well as stalls manned by a variety of businesses and organisations centred around Queen’s Gardens, Queen Victoria Square and King Edward Street. For information on taking part call Hull Council’s Events Team by May 3 on 613002.