Ringwood Carnival set to be a blaze of colour and fun
THOUSANDS of people will line the streets of Ringwood tomorrow (Saturday) to cheer on a colourful array of floats and attractions at the town’s carnival.
The popular event this year has the theme of “festival of fun” and will showcase a host of local firms and talent including musical acts, comedians and street entertainment.
As usual the carnival will have two processions, the first at 2pm and another from 7.30pm. Both will take the same route, leaving Parkside industrial estate to travel to The Bickerley via the Market Place – where there will be a VIP section, Meeting House Lane and Mansfield Road.
They will compete for the best-of-show Tom Gamage Trophy, which carries a £500 top prize that can be donated to the winner’s chosen charity.
Other accolades, which carry a £100 donation to charity, are on offer including the Jade Clarke Trophy for the best young entry, the Jen and Den best school prize, and the Catweazle Trophy for best walking offering. The funniest entrants will earn the Cox and Hicks award.
This year’s carnival queen is 16-year-old Tierney Long, and her attendants are Sarah-Faith Tihngang and Shannon McKay, both from the town’s junior school.
“I have always loved the carnival and look forward to it each year. As queen I hope to inspire and to share some of my love and passion but also magic with anyone watching,” said Tierney.
The trio will head the procession riding the prestigious horse-drawn dais, once again led through the town by the Sampson family and their Percheron horse.
That will be followed by a vintage car, supplied by RK prestige, in which Ringwood mayor Cllr Tony Ring will be travelling, plus a host of other wacky vehicles including the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car, American hot rods and steam traction engines.
The processions will also feature marching bands, such as Meridian Corps of Drums, Big Noise Samba, Batala Portsmouth, the Ragtime Revellers and the Dolphin, Wessex and Dorset Youth marching bands.
The festivities for the day begin at midday on the Bickerley Village Green, where the Adlam’s fun fair will be based alongside children’s games, stalls, arts and crafts, face painting, demonstrations, charity and trade stalls.
Live entertainment on the green will kick off from 3pm with Simon Chainey and Gang & Bow Legged Skeeter who will also provide street entertainment before both processions.
Venues around the Market Place will feature fun events. Frampton’s is hosting the official carnival party while the Bournemouth Carnival Band will perform at the Railway Pub and there will be live music at the Lamb Inn.
There are face-painting events between 11am and 2pm at the Furlong Centre and a garden party at Greyfrairs with performances by the Ringwood and Burley Band and live radio broadcasts by Forest FM.
The doors will be open to explore venues around the town including the historic Meeting House from 10am and the fire station an hour later until 4pm.
The first Ringwood Carnival was in 1928 with the event held every year since 1950. Carnival president Michael Lingam-Willgoss said: “Ringwood Carnival is a truly great community event.
“By supporting us so generously, local firms such as Ellis Jones and Churchill really cement their position at the heart of the community.”
For more information go to www.ringwoodcarnival.org.
