This Saturday (August 27) around 4,000 people, representing 120 organisations will take over Union Street as the Celebrate Aberdeen parade makes a welcome return for the first time in three years.

The first of two Celebrate Aberdeen with Baker Hughes events taking place this year, the parade recognises and celebrates the enormous contribution that third sector organisations, voluntary groups and social enterprises make to the lives of thousands of people in Aberdeen and the North-east. Also taking part will be representatives of sports clubs, musicians and dance groups who all contribute to and enrich the region’s culture.

The parade, which starts at 11am from Holburn Junction, will begin and end on a musical note with the Newtonhill Pipe Band leading the way and the Rock Choir bringing it to a close at Castlegate.

Preceding the 2022 parade will be Mel's Union Street Mile with Celebrate Aberdeen & Baker Hughes. The races, with runners from Primary 5 right up to seniors and veterans, is also returning for the first time since 2019, giving participants the rare chance to run a full mile through a city centre. The race begins at 10.30 from its starting point at the Music Hall, continues up to Holburn Junction and then down Union Street to the finishing point beside Brewdog where the medal giving ceremony will take place.

“It’s been a few months of intense hard work and planning by Celebrate Aberdeen’s small team of volunteers and it’s exciting to think that the big day is almost here,” said Celebrate Aberdeen volunteer Emily Findlay. “It was quite humbling to see how many of our fantastic third sector organisations signed up to take part again this year. This day is all about saying thank you to them for everything they’ve done over the past few years.

“We always get great support from the members of the public who turn out to watch the event and we hope that they will turn out in force this year, to show support for all the organisations who have made such a positive impact on individuals and communities right across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. The return of the parade marks what we hope is a turning point in the challenges that everyone has faced so it really is reason to celebrate.”

The second of the Celebrate Aberdeen with Baker Hughes activities will be an awards ceremony at P&J Live on Saturday, September 17, which will recognise some of the exceptional work carried out by individuals and third sector organisations.

Both events are planned and organised entirely by volunteers and funded thanks to generosity of Aberdeen’s business community, including title sponsor Baker Hughes and gold sponsors CNR International and CNOOC International, as well as partners Aberdeen City Council and Northsound.

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