FINAL preparations are under way for this year’s Frome Carnival, which will parade through the town on Saturday 19th September.
Months of fundraising, float-building and royalty-crowning will come to fruition with the children’s procession at 2.30pm and the main evening procession at 7.00pm.
The Frome Carnival tradition is over 100 years old and last year’s event saw an estimated 20,000 people turn out throughout the day, and over £5,000 raised for charity.
Carnival committee chair June Barnes said, “Last year was the biggest carnival we’ve had because so many people got involved, so we’d like to see that happen again.
“There’s still time to get involved – either by entering the processions themselves or by volunteering to help on the day as programme sellers and donation collectors.
“We’re incredibly busy organising the procession now with a very enthusiastic committee and royalty. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone enjoying themselves on the day, and to people giving generously so we can continue to help local people in need.
“The carnival’s success is very much dependent on people getting involved on the day, so we hope everyone is getting their costumes ready!”
“It has been a bit disappointing that we’ve lost one of our main sponsors this year, so it would be great to hear from more people who’d like to get involved. We still need programme sellers and donation collectors for the day, and we’d be very grateful for any extra fundraising or sponsorship.”
The carnival will be split into the children’s procession at 2.30pm, then the evening procession from 7pm. There will also be street entertainment in Westway from 10am-2pm.
To get involved with the carnival visit www.frome carnival.org.uk or call June Barnes on 01373 461625.
Road closures will be in place to allow the procession to move safely through the town.
Frome Carnival committee ask that residents take particular care over where they park on carnival day; last year’s children’s procession could not complete its route as planned because parked vehicles were blocking the road.
Roads will be closed for the afternoon procession from 1.30pm to 3.30pm, including Weymouth Road, Somerset Road, Butts Hill and Christchurch Street West.
Roads will then close from 6.30pm to 10.30pm for the evening procession, which will start at the Marston Trading Estate and take in The Butts, Butts Hill, Wesley Slope, Bath Street, Market Place, North Parade, Berkley Road, Badgers Hill and finish near the football ground.
