Ghosts of the Mary Rose and Henry will haunt festive finale
The spirit of the Mary Rose will haunt Southsea's Castle Field at the finale of this year's Portsmouth Festivities.
The past 10 days of music, historical reflection and family entertainment will culminate with a pageant on King Henry VIII's birthday this Sunday.
Thousands of people are expected to turn up to watch the afternoon and evening of entertainment.
A cast of sailors, shipwrights, flag bearers and musicians will parade from the Mary Rose at Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard to Southsea Bandstand for a family picnic and music.
And the evening will end with a Ghost Ship Spectacle, with a cast of hundreds using lighting effects, music and fireworks to celebrate the 500th anniversary of both the building of the Mary Rose and King Henry VIII's ascension to the throne.
Councillor Lee Hunt, who is in charge of culture and leisure at Portsmouth City Council, said: 'It is a fantastic free event for all the family which brings together the past and present.
'It really is everyone coming together and working together and it is just brilliant. Already we're getting some really good feedback, with people saying Portsmouth is a hard place to beat.
'It's really raising the profile of the city.'
A specialist company called Walk the Plank has put together Sunday's event.
Hundreds of schoolchildren have been involved in preparations by attending workshops on pennant-making, sea shanty singing and Tudor banquets and diet.
Festivities chairman James Priory said: 'We want to create an event which Portsmouth people will never forget and which will involve them in huge numbers.'
The festivities kicked off last Friday with an opening gala concert.
Since then there has been music at the bandstand, historical walks and talks, workshops and film screenings taking place across the city for the past week.
Events have also marked the 250th anniversary of the Year of Victories, the 150th anniversary of the birth of Arthur Conan Doyle and the centenary of the death of Portsmouth-born poet George Meredith.
Full guide to Portsmouth Festivities 2009
Also see: Portsmouth Festivies Guide
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Friday 25 May 2012
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