Artists will join mayor's parade

The day-long event, which takes place this Bank Holiday Monday, begins with a procession through the city centre before an afternoon of entertainment at Hinksey Park.

Music will range from rock and pop to folk and gospel, while majorettes, belly dancers, Brazilian drummers and a variety of other acts will show off their talents. About 220 performers will make up the parade itself, including members of the Wallingford Unicycle Club, Circo Rum Ba Ba Stilt Walkers and Oxford University Brass Band.

At the picnic in Hinksey Park about 35 stalls will offer local produce and crafts alongside face painters, a bungee trampoline, football goals, a circus workshop, giant bubble displays and other family entertainment.

Among the acts confirmed for the afternoon are Makating, a 12-piece reggae band from Oxford, local indie rockers Not My Day and the Oxford Gospel Choir. Also appearing are punk-folk poets Inflatable Buddha, Los Angeles-based blues band Lightnin' Willie and the Poorboys, and the Oxford Fiddle Group.

Susanna Pressel, the newly elected Lord Mayor of Oxford, said: "This year's parade and picnic will be an event to remember and I would encourage everyone to come along to enjoy all the fantastic entertainment on offer.

"There is a lot of excitement around this year's event and by working together with dozens of different organisations we will make the event a truly memorable spectacle for everyone in Oxford to enjoy."

Steve Larkin, an Oxford-based poet, rapper and comedian, who will compere the day's events, said: "I cannot wait."

The parade leaves Radcliffe Square at 11.30am and arrives in Hinksey Park at 12.45pm.

The procession will pause for about five minutes in Broad Street, Cornmarket and St Aldate's en route to the park. Redbridge park-and-ride service will run throughout the day to and from Lake Street, opposite Hinksey Park, every seven or eight minutes.

Disabled parking will be available at the park on the day.