Children took to the streets in a wave of colour and carnival fun to start one of Europe's largest arts festivals.

Crowds lined the route and applauded as the Children's Parade made its way through the North Laine towards the seafront as part of this year's Brighton Festival Parade producers, arts company Same Sky, were right to predict it would be bigger and better than before as more than 2,500 youngsters in colourful costumes put on vibrant displays.

They moved through the streets to the sound of samba, many clutching the hands of their parents and some in pushchairs. The sun shone for the 13th annual parade and provided the perfect background to this year's theme of Paradise Gardens.

Children from 60 primary and secondary schools, youth clubs and city groups were thrilled to be able to show off three months' hard work.

City schools represented included St Martin's, Carlton Hill, Benfield, St Luke's, Balfour Infants, Fairlight, Hertford Infants, Stanford Juniors, Queen's Park, Carden Primary and Nursery schools, Patcham Juniors, Brighton and Hove Montessori, St John's College, Kemp Town site and Elm Grove. City groups such as Mosaic were also represented.

Giant flowers, peacocks, butterflies and caterpillars, a giant clock with waving hands, a huge cup and saucer, crocodiles, dolphins and sharks, frogs and a large golden pharoah were just some of the artistic creations on show. Bill and Ben the flowerpot men also put in an appearance.

Music was provided by Carnival Collective, Strange Cargo, Islington Green School, Brincedera, Skin And Bone and about 20 specially-formed school samba bands.

For the third year running, Carnival Collective provided workshops to enable teachers to set up bands.

Elm Grove Primary School gave one of the most eyecatching displays with a tropical garden theme and giant leopard designed by teacher Ian Trice. Seven-year-old Maddie Fitch and her friends looked the part in leopard-skin costumes.

Maddie said: "It has been brilliant. The walk was my favourite bit of the day."

Her mum Sandra Deacon, wearing her own set of leopard ears, said: "They have been preparing for five or six weeks. It's quite a long way to walk for the children but they have loved every minute."

Patcham Junior School won admiring looks for their Japanese-themed display, with a giant Madame Butterfly centrepiece.

Teacher Suzanne Nye said: "All the girls are wearing Japanese fans and the boys are ninjas. We also have dancers and samba with 30 children in the band. They made their own instruments from things like bottles and buckets."

Stanford Junior School put on a beautiful display on the theme of a Victorian fairy garden with lilac and pinks and a huge butterfly centrepiece.

Teacher Joanne Lee said: "This is one of the best we have done. The children have been practising their samba for about two weeks. The kids think it's brilliant."

Emma Walsh, ten, said: "We tie-dyed our clothes ourselves and learnt samba, which was a bit tiring but really good fun."

Chloe Parkin, ten, added: "The best bit of the day was seeing our teacher Mr Rodericks dressed as a butterfly."

The pupils of Brighton and Hove Montessori School were buzzing around their beehive display, complete with beekeepers and a queen bee.

Aiden Ball, five, provided the sound effects with his kazoo. His mother Virginia Acha said: "He has been practising at home so we are used to it. He's having a great time. This is his first festival and he loves it.

"He's a bit tired but he just said to me, 'You see, I told you I could make it!'"

Among those watching the parade was Lisa Keogh, from Stevenage, Kent, on a day trip with her two young children.

She said: "I didn't realise this was the first day of the festival but it's a real bonus to be here. The music is great and the kids are enjoying themselves."

The parade finished on the seafront where events company Positive Sound System welcomed it with a lively mix of carnival music.

Then the youngsters and their families enjoyed the sunshine and posed for photographs.

The parade was just one of the events on the opening day.

Luminarium: Levity, an elaborate bouncy castle with coloured tunnels and rooms inside, is in the Pavilion Gardens until 6pm today. It opens at noon with tickets costing £4.

Our full festival guide, with previews and reviews updated daily, is at thisisbrightonandhove.co.uk/brighton__hove/leisure/festival/