Join us for our annual street parade, celebrating journeys across oceans, generations and overcoming barriers.
Colours of Redbridge will be running our annual street parade with the theme ‘Treasures of the Tide’. A giant sea turtle will swim through the streets, accompanied by schools of fish made from beautiful silk batiks and bottles to gather messages from the local community. There will also be silk waves telling the stories of how people came to settle here in Redbridge. The parade will also feature giant fabric shell sculptures, samba drumming and smoke effects.
The parade is led by a Steering Group who support people facing barriers to accessing arts and culture, such as older people and people with disabilities.
Who is this for?
We welcome the whole community to this spectacular event – it’s suitable for all ages and abilities to come and watch. See the map below for more information. There is also a designated viewing area for disabled audiences at the start of the route.
What is the route for the parade?
Please see the map below for more details. Note that Cranbrook Road will be closed to traffic between The Drive and Ilford Hill during the parade to create a safe space for everyone to take part.
There are areas along the parade route which are more suitable for people who prefer a quieter experience (the “relaxed” section) as well as areas where there will be loud samba drumming (the rest of the route).
What will I get out of it?
This is a big, inclusive spectacle for everyone to enjoy. You will get to meet new people and celebrate the diversity of cultures here in Redbridge as different local groups are taking part in the parade. This year, local schools have created the fish and wave elements to carry and some of the schools will also be taking part in the drumming sections.
How to book?
There is no need to book – you can just turn up on the day. For more information, call 020 8708 2858 and choose option 4 or email hello@colours.red. There will be plenty of spaces to watch the parade on the day, and we highly recommend watching either from the south side of the lake in Valentines Park or along Cranbrook Road (see map for details).
How do I get there?
We recommend taking public transport where possible. Ilford station is directly next to the parade route. There is limited parking at Valentines Park and the Exchange Shopping Centre. Plan your journey at tfl.gov.uk.
Access ♿
- Relaxed Performance (no loud music) between Valentines Park Café and Cranbrook Road
- Full Parade (with loud music ) from Cranbrook Road to The Exchange
- The parade route is step-free
- There are accessible toilets and changing places toilets at both the start (Valentines Park Café) and end point (Ilford Exchange) of the parade route
- There is an accessible viewing area at the start of the parade route
- We recommend you bring ear plugs if you are sensitive to noise
- We are offering an audio described introduction to the parade at 11:00 in Valentines Park for blind and visually impaired people. You need to book onto this in advance by emailing access@colours.red.
Please email us at access@colours.red to discuss your requirements.
How can I get involved?
Get involved on the day by writing your very own message in a bottle, containing your dreams and ideas for the future of Redbridge.
How it works:
- Wash out a used plastic drinks bottle
- Write your message, idea or wish for the borough on a piece of paper
- Add your name or age if you’d like (optional)
- Roll or fold your message and place it inside the bottle
- Bring it along to the parade, drop it into one of our collection nets along the parade route
About the artists
- Kinetika is an internationally renowned arts organisation that specialises in large-scale hand-painted silk designs and community-driven placemaking events.
- Emergency Exit Arts (EEA) is one of the UK’s leading outdoor arts and participatory theatre companies. They are known for large-scale public celebrations, giant puppets, pyrotechnics, and community-led creative projects that transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary spectacles.
- Drum Works is a London-based social music project that uses collaborative drumming to inspire creativity, build social cohesion, and empower young people.
Thank you
The parade is led by a Steering Group who support people facing barriers to accessing arts and culture, such as older people and people with disabilities. We would like to thank:
- Age UK
- Ageless Teenagers
- Inclusivity Hub (Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure)
- Inclusive Communities
- Link Up Crew
- Redbridge Music Lounge
- Uniting Friends
We would also like to thank the schools who have taken part in creating different elements for the parade:
- Barley Lane Primary School
- Farnham Green Primary School
- Fullwood Primary School
- Hatton Special School
- Little Heath Secondary Sixth Form
- Seven Kings Secondary School
- SS Peters and Pauls Catholic Primary School
