Midsummer Festival Parade Commission, Milton Keynes City Council

Taking place on Sunday 21st June, 10am - 8pm, the third edition of the Midsummer Festival in Milton Keynes features a free, fun-packed family-friendly programme inspired by the summer solstice. Located on Midsummer Boulevard, which was built to famously align with the rising and setting sun, the festival transforms both the road and surrounding public realm into joyful, colour filled stage, hosting performances, creative workshops, concerts, art installations, a fantastic street food offer and more. www.midsummer-festival.co.uk The Festival Parade commission opportunity can be summarised as: Develop and deliver a high-energy, celebratory, impactful and engaging outdoor festival parade, suitable for a family audience. The expectation is that the parade would be performed twice during the Festival, an afternoon parade and a repeat presentation to form the festival's closing event. Proposals should demonstrate how the work can be reset and performed twice within this timeframe. The parade will form two key moments within the Midsummer Festival programme and the scale and the ambition of the piece will need to consider this. To take inspiration from the various themes and ideas inherent within Midsummer including; Midsummer folklore, summer solstice and local myths, stories and legends. The parade will be experienced by the Midsummer audience, a shared public experience rather than audience involvement. Prioritise high production , theatrical impact and an overall visually compelling piece that should be seen and heard throughout the festival footprint. The commission should include collaboration with a minimum of two locally based community groups. Proposals should be designed for outdoor presentation along Midsummer Boulevard in central Milton Keynes which is closed to all traffic for the duration of the Festival.