Thousands gather as Festivities goes out with a bang!

Thousands lined the streets of Portsmouth on Sunday in glorious sunshine to watch the spectacular Lift Off Carnival parade weave its way from Gunwharf Quays through the streets of old Portsmouth to Southsea Bandstand and Castle Field.  The crowds at Southsea Bandstand continued to enjoy the live music and food with performances by Big Brother Soul.  As dusk started to settle the crowds gathered on Castle Field and thousands watched the spectacular climax to this year’s space-themed Portsmouth Festivities.  Devised by Walk the Plank, onlookers watched as explosuive special effects and huge colourful costumes told the story of the flight with performances and pyrotechnic displays culminating in an enormous flaming rocket ‘taking off’ accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display.