The Lord Mayor's Celebrations '09

A wall of colour will march through Norwich city centre for the procession.

A vibrant, colourful street procession will be the highlight of the Lord Mayor's Celebrations 2009.

The festivities run throughout Norwich from Thursday, 9 - Sunday, 12 July.

More than 60 floats dressed with a colourful cast of characters will entertain the crowds as the procession streams through the city.

Other events during the period include fireworks, a two day music festival, funfair, outdoor theatre, cinema and comedy, dancers and street artists.

The procession, on Saturday, 11 July, 2009, starts at 6.45pm and will be led round by the City of Norwich Pipe Band, who will bring the sound of Scotland to East Anglia, in full military style highland dress.

Other floats that will follow the route through the centre of Norwich include BBC Radio Norfolk, Norwich City Football Club, the Norfolk & Norwich Asian Society, 222 Broadland Squadron Air Cadets and Lakenham Hewett Rugby Football Club.

As the parade goes through the city centre, a number of roads will be closed.

For a full list of the closures, take a look at this guide from Norwich City Council.

Radio

BBC Radio Norfolk will be broadcasting a special programme bringing listeners the sights and sounds of the procession.

The show is broadcast on 95.1/95.6/104.4 FM, 855/873 MW, DAB and online between 6 and 9pm, with presenters Graham Barnard and Karen Buchanan at the helm, while various reporters commentate as the floats go around the city.

A BBC Norfolk photographer will be documenting the procession, so check the website after the event to see the pictures.

Events

It's not just the procession that will draw thousands out of their homes, four days of comedy, dance, music and fireworks will keep everyone entertained.

Huge numbers are expected to line the streets for the procession

The celebrations begin on Thursday, when edgy and inventive comedians Glen Wool and Jarred Christmas perform at the Castle Gardens.

On Friday, St Andrews Hall tries to recreate the Last Night of the Proms with spirited and vocal participation. Hear and sing along to classics like Rule Britannia, Land of Hope and Glory and Jerusalem.

If you fancy something less vocal, you could experience a special screening of the 1984 film Ghostbusters at an outdoor cinema at Castle Green.

There are a whole host of activities on Saturday before and after the Lord Mayors Procession.

Music will play across the city in a number of different locations, playing jazz, motown, soul and some of Norfolk's freshest young talent as BBC Norfolk Introducing hosts an afternoon of music from local bands at Chapelfield Gardens.

And if the procession is a bit too slow for you, why not sign up for the The Lord Mayor's 5km Classic Road Race?

You can run two laps of the traffic-free city centre course, which was first staged in 1996 and now attracts the best quality field for an event of its kind in the East of England.

For a full list of the events over the period, look at the programme here.