FROME is set for a fantastic day of entertainment as Carnival Day gets underway on Saturday 25th September.
The Frome Carnival committee is sure that this year’s event will be a spectacular as ever, with a good number of entries already received and with more still coming in. As ever, it will be a great event that everyone can get involved with.
“So many people get enjoyment out of it!” said June Barnes, chairman of Frome Carnival committee. “There’s a team of us working together; it’s hard work but it all comes together and there will be a good show!
“Carnival really is for everyone. Everyone can get involved and it really does create a certain atmosphere in Frome – it’s lovely to have it.
“There’s a lot of talent involved, particularly with all the dressing up and putting the floats together. However, we do still need people to come forward to help on the day.”
The Carnival has been delighting Frome residents since 1929, and has grown in popularity over the years. June explained why she believes the carnival has such strength. “I think it’s because it’s all about Frome people, and it’s Frome people who are benefiting. We do the whole thing for our charity, and there are a lot of people who have asked for our help over the years.”
The afternoon children’s procession will start at 2.30pm from Victoria Park gate, going up Weymouth Road, left into Somerset Road, left into Butts Hill, Wesley Slope, left into Christchurch Street West, left into Weymouth Road and into Park via Weymouth Road park gates.
The evening procession will start at 7.00pm from Marston Trading Estate, working its way through the town towards the Football Ground. The illuminated procession will begin at the junction of Manor Road with The Butts, proceeding along The Butts and Butts Hill, Wesley Slope, Bath Street, Market Place, North Parade, Berkley Road and Badgers Hill before finishing at the Football Ground.
In the afternoon, Weymouth Road will be closed from 1.00pm and other roads on the route will be closed from 1.30pm. For the evening procession, roads will be closed from 6.00pm. Residents are being asked to park off the carnival routes and motorists should be aware that there will be diversions and delays.
Carnival fever will be building up before the event, with a series of events in the town. These include a quiz night on Friday 17th September at 8.00pm at the South Parade Club, the annual duck race from the Westway footbridge on Saturday 18th September at 1.30pm, a pub quiz on Wednesday 22nd September at 7.30pm at The Masons Arms, and Carnival Bingo on Friday 24th September at 8.00pm at The Kingsway.
Shops in the town are getting involved with all the fun and frivolities. The Frome Times has teamed up with the Frome Carnival Committee to organise a Carnival Shop Window Competition, so keep a look out for the colourful and creative displays across the town. Shops with a big red spot in the window are also participating in another competition, where entrants have to find an object hidden in the shop window that the shop would not usually sell.
Turn to pages 12 and 13 for a full carnival run-down
