Inspiring women parade to ignite Light Night Leeds

Wednesday, 3 October 2018 07:00

A parade paying tribute to a century of inspiring women will get this week’s Light Night Leeds festival underway.

Featuring animated puppets, illuminated banners and LED signs made by local community groups, the parade will weave its way through the city centre in front of an expected crowd of thousands this Thursday 4 October.

As well as celebrating Leeds Suffragettes Leonora Cohen and Mary Gawthorpe, who put their lives and freedom on the line in the fight for the right to vote, the parade will also pay tribute to other inspirational and influential women from the past 100 years, including astronaut Helen Sharman and civil rights activist Rosa Parks.

Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “Over the past 14 years, Light Night Leeds has continued to evolve, growing into an event of such impressive ambition and creativity that it has become one of the benchmarks for culture and innovation in Leeds and beyond.

“As Light Night once again brings thousands of people together, we hope that the event is not only a celebration of culture and artistic endeavour, but also of the unity, diversity and collective civic pride which are part of the foundation of Leeds.”

Light Night Leeds takes place on October 4 and 5 from 6pm until 11pm. The event’s headline partner is Leeds 2023.

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