Two days of carnival fun

4:08pm Tuesday 2nd September 2008

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THIS year’s Stourport Carnival will be the “biggest and best yet”, according to one of the organisers.

The annual town carnival takes place on Saturday and Sunday and Pete Roberts, a member of the carnival committee, is confident the event will be a greater success than previous years.

He said: “We have more people taking part in the parade than ever before and it looks like it will be the biggest carnival for many a year.

“We want it to be the biggest and best yet. Hopefully, the weather will hold out for us and, fingers crossed, it will be a good day out for everyone.”

Mr Roberts added organisers were still taking entries for the parade and said if anyone wanted to join in, they should turn up at Areley Kings playing field at 11am on Saturday.

He also encouraged shopkeepers and businesses to decorate their windows in red, white and blue bunting for the shop window competition, being judged tomorrow.

The carnival begins at 12.30pm on Saturday, when the land parade leaves Areley Kings playing field.

The vehicles and pedestrians will then travel over Stourport Bridge, into the town centre, up High Street and into Vale Road, before heading along Lombard Street and Lion Hill, stopping at Riverside Meadows.

A host of attractions and events will continue on the riverside throughout the day, including the crowning of the carnival queen at 2.30pm and entertainment from Katie Collins’s School of Irish Dance, the Bangers and Mash puppet theatre, the Moonshakers band and the Just Dance group.

There will be a river parade, organised by Stourport Yacht Club, at 4pm and again at 8pm, when all boats will be illuminated. A fireworks display will then round off the day.

On Sunday, the entertainment will continue at the riverside park, with music at the bandstand and stalls, games and rides for children. Entry is free over both days.

People who have bought programmes, which are available in shops on the High Street and Bridge Street in Stourport, also have a chance to win £250 in a draw at 4pm on Sunday.

All money raised from the event will go towards Headway and Stourport Methodist Church.