for Dubai's 32-day festivalDSF 2003 has unveiled an elaborate calendar for parades throughout the 32-day period of the festival. International artists, residents, the police force, school students are set to hold spectators spell-bound at these parades which are in the format of carnivals.
"Parades have always been a part of the Festival, but we are organising more than 32 separate parades which will be open to visitor participation as well. All the parades will have visual exciting elements - bizarre clothes, candles, acrobats, gymnasts, clowns, stilt-walkers, animal characters and humans in strange shapes, horses and more. The helicopter parade will be the highlight of the parades calendar," said Yousif Mubarak, administrations director, DSF. Al Seef Street, Creek Park, Al Dhiyafah, Al Riqqa and Al Muraqqabat Streets will be host to the parades. The popular Harley Davidson Parade will also be organised on two separate days of the festival. Of interest to children will be the inflatable parade, where more than 25 inflatable characters will walk on the streets interacting with children and creating a carnival atmosphere. More than ten bands with 60 performers each will be a part of the GCC Band Parades, which will be organised once a week. These bands will capture the traditional and cultural aspect of the festival. School student participation will be very strong in the parades, with different parades and shows being created especially for them. These include the hat Parade, flower parade, traditional dress parade, school bands parade, school sports Parade et al. Army bands will also participate in the parades with more than 20 personnel each from police, civil defence and army participating in their parade. Stallions from the police forces will also participate in a parade that will highlight their strength and connection with the traditions of the region.