There were plenty of smiling faces celebrating the diversity and community in Ipswich's Norwich Road at The Hive event on Saturday, April 9.

Placards reading 'love your community' and 'be happy' were held as South Street Kids paraded from Eastern Angles to Barrack Corner to kick-off the day of celebrations.

Ipswich Star: Phil Harper, Nick Spall and Johnny on the drums.PICTURE: CHARLOTTE BONDPhil Harper, Nick Spall and Johnny on the drums.PICTURE: CHARLOTTE BOND (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Chalk-drawings, music and a pop-up radio station to capture conversations from residents were also on offer for visitors to the Westgate ward on a fine weather Saturday morning.

Ipswich Star: A community rainbow drawn on the pavement in chalk PICTURE: CHARLOTTE BONDA community rainbow drawn on the pavement in chalk PICTURE: CHARLOTTE BOND (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Organised by Cad Taylor and the team from The Hive community hub, the aim of the event was to celebrate multiculturalism along the key Ipswich street.

Ipswich Star: Parade of South Street Kids, who made their own placards of positivityParade of South Street Kids, who made their own placards of positivity (Image: Mariusz Gebski)

Speaking ahead of the event, Westgate ward councillor Colin Kreidewolf said: "It's a diverse, multicultural area of town and that's what we want to celebrate.

Ipswich Star: Respect and belief were two big messages of the day PICTURE: CHARLOTTE BONDRespect and belief were two big messages of the day PICTURE: CHARLOTTE BOND (Image: Charlotte Bond)

"It gets people talking to each other and understand each other better.

"It may be relatively small scale this year as we try to establish it, and then seek further funding to develop it further."

Ipswich Star: Becki Blackwood of Rock, Paper, Scissors creating chalk drawings. PICTURE: CHARLOTTE BONDBecki Blackwood of Rock, Paper, Scissors creating chalk drawings. PICTURE: CHARLOTTE BOND (Image: Charlotte Bond)

A carnival was previously an annual event in Ipswich, but has not featured in the town for well over two decades.

Ipswich Star: Johnny on the drums at the Norwich Road event PICTURE: CHARLOTTE BONDJohnny on the drums at the Norwich Road event PICTURE: CHARLOTTE BOND (Image: Charlotte Bond)