**We have taken the difficult decision to postpone the Colours of Redbridge Treasures of the Tide parade on Saturday due to the Met Office extreme high temperature warning.**
We will be looking for an alternative date in September at the end of our Summer Season.
We realise this will be very disappointing news for some of you, but we must put the safety and comfort of our participants first: many people we work with are particularly vulnerable to the heat which has been made worse by the prolonged and sustained high temperatures this week. We also want to make sure all the school children and community members can fully take part.
We are now beginning the process of notifying stakeholders and putting out public communications. We will be in touch as soon as we have found an alternative date for September.
Please email hello@colours.red for more information and keep an eye on our Instagram / Facebook channels.
Very best wishes,
The Colours of Redbridge Team
- 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 Colours of Redbridge website, or 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.
