Children's Parade takes place at home for first time ever

Children across the city took part this morning by making rainbow-themed costumes, banging drums and dancing in their gardens.

The Children's Parade traditionally kickstarts Brighton Festival every year, with primary schools from across the city getting involved.  

Pupils normally parade through the streets with costumes and props they have made, bringing a party atmosphere to the city with live music and dancing.

This year, because of the coronavirus, Brighton Festival encouraged schools to get students involved in the Children's Parade at Home to keep the spirit of the event alive during the lockdown.

Victoria Baynton-Williams, who took part in the Children's Parade at Home with her husband Ted and two children Audrey and Rex

Vicky Baynton-Williams took part with her husband Ted and their two children, Audrey and Rex.

She said: "It gave us a focus in the week as we were making the animals, and was something to get us moving on a Saturday morning.

"We had a boogie to samba music with the neighbours - at a distance."

Vicky's daughter Audrey, 6, enjoyed making animals for the Children's Parade at Home

Emma Inch, whose seven-year-old daughter Martha attends Woodingdean Primary School, said she would normally go to watch the Children's Parade every year.

She said: "It always feels like this marks the start of a month of good fun in Brighton. We had already booked tickets for a couple of things. 

"The school sent round the information about doing the parade at home with a rainbow theme and the song Can't Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake.

"Martha just didn't stop this morning - she absolutely loved it. She had the rainbow flags and just really got into it.

"Things like this are great as it brings people together - it connects us if we do something all at the same time.

"It's such a shame it couldn't happen as it's a unique Brighton event." 

Jo Hall, who works at St Mark's Primary School, said that having a mini parade at home was the ideal way to break up the monotony of the lockdown.

Her sons Phoenix and Kaedon Browning celebrated in rainbow wigs, costumes and facepaint in their garden in the Ridgway in Woodingdean.

The 49-year-old said: "I put some bunting out and my sons were dancing in the front garden as people were walking past. 

"Passers-by started clapping. It was nice to have five minutes of fun outside to break up the boredom.

"Phoenix goes to Woodingdean Primary and everyone has been posting their videos on Twitter.

"I've been involved with the Children's Parade for years as I have five children and I work in a school. I love it. It would have been such a nice day for it too."

Phoenix, 10, and Kaedon,11, celebrated the Children's Parade at Home with rainbow streamers and costumes

Lieghann Jackson from Hangleton decided to have a mini parade with her three children Owen, Kaci-Leigh and Callie during their daily exercise. 

She said: "They all dressed up and had little instruments so they could make as much noise as possible, which they loved.

"They all go to West Blatchington Primary School and had been looking forward to dressing up as hummingbirds and tropical animals.

"The Children's Parade is really quite a nice thing for them to be part of, and this would have only been their second year doing it."

Owen, 11, Callie, 4, and Kaci-Leigh,8, had their own Children's Parade during their daily exercise outing today

Families shared photos and videos of their parades on social media, with the charity and Brighton Festival partner Same Sky kicking things off with a samba drumming call-out.

The first Brighton Festival was held in 1967, and it is now the largest arts festival in England.

2020 is the only year it has not taken place in its 53-year history.

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