Press Release – Treasures of the Tide: An Underwater Spectacle Set to Transform the Streets of Redbridge

• A large-scale procession called ‘Treasures of the Tide’ will take over the streets of Ilford on Saturday 27 June starting at 11:00.
• It’s free to attend and will transform the area into an underwater oasis with a giant sea turtle, schools of batik fabric fish and live samba drumming.
• It’s produced by Colours of Redbridge, bringing exciting, free creative experiences to East London, all led by local community members.

A giant sea turtle, shimmering shoals of fish and the thunder of samba drums will transform the streets of Ilford into an extraordinary underwater oasis this Saturday as Colours of Redbridge’s annual community street parade returns with its most ambitious celebration yet.

This year’s theme is ‘Treasures of the Tide’. A magnificent giant sea turtle will glide through the streets, leading a dazzling procession of shimmering fish crafted from hand-painted silk batiks, giant shell sculptures and towering waves that ripple through the crowd. There will also be live samba drumming, magical smoke effects, and giant bottles to collect messages from spectators.

The parade celebrates the many journeys across oceans, generations and overcoming barriers that have brought people to Redbridge, transforming local stories into a spectacular public artwork.

Hundreds of residents, school students and community group members have helped create different elements of the parade alongside world-class artists from Kinetika, Emergency Exit Arts and Drum Works.

The whole community is invited to come and watch as the parade leaves Valentines Park Café at 11:00, travels down Cranbrook Road, and reaches The Exchange Ilford on the High Road around midday.

For more information, visit the website at www.colours.red, call 020 8708 2858 and choose option 4, or pick up a route map in your local library.

Drum Works Tutor, Daniel Adeshina said: “This is the second year we’ve been involved in the parade, and it’s honestly such a magical event. We’ve had a great time running drumming workshops in local schools and can’t wait for the young people to showcase what they’ve learned on Saturday.”

Steering Group Member, Sue Grant said: “It’s really important that we support events like this, as it brings people together and makes us all feel part of the community. I work with a group of older residents and we’ve been involved in making our own tie-dye clothing for the parade, which looks stunning.”

Colours of Redbridge Programme Director, Pete Nichols said: “Treasures of the Tide is our biggest parade yet. Hundreds of school pupils and community members will come together to fill the streets with giant silks, moving sculptures and beautiful music. If you’ve never been to a Colours of Redbridge event before, you’re in for a real treat – it’s going to be a joyful celebration of colour, community and culture!”

An Experience for Everyone

The opening section, from Valentines Park Café to Cranbrook Road, provides a relaxed atmosphere without loud music, creating a calm and sensory-friendly environment for audiences who prefer a quieter experience.

From Cranbrook Road to The Exchange, the parade bursts into full celebration, with energetic samba drumming, vibrant performances and a spectacular carnival atmosphere.

A dedicated accessible viewing area will be available at the start of the route, and a detailed parade map will help visitors choose the experience that suits them best. The entire parade route is step-free, with accessible toilets and Changing Places facilities available at both Valentines Park Café and The Exchange.

An audio-described introduction for blind and visually impaired audiences will take place at 11:00am in Valentines Park before the parade begins. Advance booking is required via access@colours.red.

Leave Your Message for the Future

Visitors are invited to become part of the story by contributing to a collective artwork inspired by the sea.

Everyone is encouraged to bring a “message in a bottle” – a dream, memory, wish or hope for the future of Redbridge. Messages can be written on paper, rolled or folded, tied with ribbon or string, and placed into the giant bottles along the parade route, becoming part of a growing tide of community voices.

The Artists Behind the Magic

Treasures of the Tide brings together some of the UK’s leading outdoor arts organisations.

• Kinetika are internationally renowned for their spectacular hand-painted silks and community placemaking projects.
• Emergency Exit Arts are pioneers of outdoor arts, giant puppetry and large-scale public celebrations.
• Drum Works empowers young people through collaborative music-making and will bring the parade to life with an electrifying soundtrack of live percussion.

Celebrating Community

Colours of Redbridge extends its thanks to the Community Steering Group and partner organisations, including Age UK, Ageless Teenagers, Inclusivity Hub, Inclusive Communities, Link Up Crew, Redbridge Music Lounge and Uniting Friends.

Special thanks also go to the schools that have helped create artworks for the parade: Barley Lane Primary, Farnham Green Primary, Fullwood Primary, Hatton Special School, Little Heath Sixth Form, Seven Kings Secondary and SS Peter and Paul’s Catholic Primary.

The event is supported by Westfield Better Futures, funded by Westfield Stratford City and Foundation For Future London.

About Colours of Redbridge

Colours of Redbridge is an award-winning programme of community-led arts and culture in the borough of Redbridge. It is part of Creative People and Places (CPP), a national programme from Arts Council England, where local people decide what culture happens in their area.

The programme supports people who live, work or study in Redbridge to develop their own creative and cultural projects for everyone to enjoy.

As well as Arts Council England, the programme is supported by the following local organisations: Age UK; Community Action Redbridge; Ekota Academy; Friends of Loxford; Iford Business Improvement District; Muslimah Sports Association; SPACE Studios; and Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure.

For anyone interested in getting more involved in the Colours of Redbridge programme, please email hello@colours.red.