It’s set to be a breathtaking spectacle – and the free parade takes place across three Greater Manchester locations on Thursday, Friday and Saturday
The Herds, a pack of life-sized animal puppets head to Greater Manchester from July 3. Pictured here in London.(Image: Copyright Unknown)
Greater Manchester will welcome a herd of incredible life-sized animal puppets across three days this week – and the spectacular event is free to attend.
Billed as a breathtaking untamed spectacle which will vividly dramatise the climate crisis, the hugely ambitious new public artwork The Herds has seen life-sized animal puppets travel from Africa across Europe and will now head to Manchester, Rochdale and Leigh from Thursday, July 3 through to Saturday July 5.
Thousands are expected to attend on Thursday night to watch as the animals visit Manchester city centre as part of their epic journey to officially launch this year’s Manchester International Festival.
As they crossed continents they have grown in numbers and species for the arrival in the UK.
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We can expect elephants, giraffes, antelope, monkeys and lions, with some local species joining along the route.
Elephants, antelope and monkeys will be among the spectacuar life-size puppets on parade(Image: Copyright Unknown)
For the opening event of MIF 2025, on Thursday 3 July the displaced herd arrives in Manchester City Centre, set on interrupting an orchestral performance by Manchester Camerata.
They will sweep the music into their frenzy as they then head into town and along Market Street. On Friday they head to Rochdale, and then Saturday it’s on to Wigan.
They will be joined by hundreds of participants from across Greater Manchester. Presented by The Walk Productions and led by Artistic Director Amir Nizar Zubai, it follows the international success of The Walk in 2021, which saw a 12-foot tall puppet of a Syrian refugee girl called Little Amal travel from Turkey to the UK.
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It’s set to be a spectacular occasion(Image: Getty Images)Where to watch The Herds
The parade will start at Cathedral Gardens at 6pm on Thursday, July 3, next to the National Football Museum.
It will then snake through the city centre, heading along Exchange Square and up to Market Street and will conclude at 7.15pm.
After the opening night in celebration of MIF25 The Herds will then abandon the city centre to head to the residential streets of Heywood, Rochdale on Friday, July 4.
The Herds will start their journey at 7pm in the industrial shadow of Mutual Mills on Aspinall Street.
The parade will then move to Queen’s Park in search of nature where crowds can admire the animals until 8pm.
For the final stop on their Greater Manchester journey, The Herds find a fleeting refuge in the wild beauty of Pennington Flash Country Park on Saturday, July 5.
Visitors are invited to explore the park’s winding trails, pause in bird hides, and quietly observe as 70 lifesized puppets appear amid the trees and wetlands between 1pm and 4pm on the Saturday.
The park is on St Helen’s Road in Leigh.