Yoko Ono’s Bells for Peace performance kicked off Manchester International Festival this evening, starting almost three weeks of cultural events.

Bells for Peace saw thousands congregate in Cathedral Gardens, coming together in the name of peace. Starting with an introductory video on the people of Manchester and what peace means for them and to them as large bells started ringing around the Gardens.

From there, Yoko Ono started her part of the video on the big screens. At one point drawing a laugh from the crowd as she asked us to “count the clouds”, an impossible task in typically completely overcast Manchester skies.

From there she led the crowd in beginning the bell ringing, pretty loud with the thousands of bells and people in attendance. The Plastic Ono Band’s “Give Peace a Chance” signaled the end of the event, with many people continuing their singing long after the music stopped.