A mass gathering to mark the life and work of Nelson Mandela will take place in Leicester on Saturday.
Leicester Cathedral, Leicester City Council and community and faith organisations will be joining together for a day of thanksgiving and tributes to the South African statesman.
They will include a gathering in Nelson Mandela Park, followed by a walk to freedom to the Cathedral for a service and the decorating of a Rainbow Tree outside St Martin's House.
The events will be held the day before Mr Mandela, who died on December 5 aged 95, will receive a state funeral in his home village of Qunu, in Eastern Cape where he was born.
Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: "Nelson Mandela's life was truly an extraordinary one which took him from being a political prisoner to being the ruler of the very country which imprisoned him.
"He really was an example of not just talking the talk, but really walking the walk and setting an example to others with his own conduct.
"He was a giant of our times, and while these events will commemorate his passing, they will also be celebrating his life, his humanity and the transformational legacy which he has left behind."
The events will begin at 2pm with a gathering at Nelson Mandela Park, including poetry and texts conveying some of Mr Mandela's most inspirational quotes and messages.
Following this, dozens of young people from the St Philips Centre in Evington, representing a variety of faiths from across the city, will lead a parade carrying a South African flag from the park, through the city centre to Leicester Cathedral.
It will be symbolic Walk of Freedom to reflect Mr Mandela's own 'walk to freedom' emerging from 27 years of imprisonment in South Africa to become the country's most important senior statesman and its first black president.
A short service will be held from 3pm which will include performances by a gospel choir, messages from the city's civic and faith leaders and the lighting of a candle in remembrance and reflection of Mr Mandela's extraordinary life and struggle against oppression.
People will then move outside to create a vast 'Rainbow Tree' in a tree outside St Martin's House, by tying coloured ribbons to it. Warm refreshments will also be served.
Organisations involved in the commemorations include Serendipity Arts - the organisers of Leicester's Black History Month - and Leicester Council of Faiths.
The Rt Rev Tim Stevens, Bishop of Leicester, added: "Mandela offered us the visionary and humane leadership our world needs. We have much to learn from his wisdom."
The Very Rev David Monteith, Dean of Leicester, said: "Following his release, Mandela's continuing walk to freedom for all people shows us that forgiveness isn't an abstract idea but is real and revolutionary.
"We have seen it is possible to live the best human life and his greatest memorial would be for us all to do likewise."
Three books of condolence have also been set up at Leicester Cathedral, the Town Hall and County Hall where people can pay their respects to the man that the current South African president Jacob Zuma has referred to as that country's 'greatest son.'
