Are you ready to enjoy Congleton Carnival? This year’s Carnival machine is getting into full swing with plenty of reports of groups, schools and companies busy making costumes and decorations ready for the 1970s parade.
Congleton Carnival takes place over three days from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 July. It only happens every two years… it takes that long to recover and plan for the next one!
On Friday 11 July the Carnival weekend kicks off with the ‘Holler’ concert on Hankinson’s field. There’s a talented array of local bands on the Carnival Stage including Adam French, Sweet Winn Dixie, Animal Arcade and The Lemming Effect. Tickets cost £5 and can be purchased in advance or on the door.
This year’s Carnival promises to the best for years – with around 70 groups and over 1,000 people in the procession. There will be a mixture of floats, marching bands, dancers, walkers and animals – all adopting a 70s theme. The procession will leave Bromley Road at 11am and make its way around the town centre via Lawton Street, High Street, the pedestrian area, Swan Bank, West Street, Antrobus Street, Mill Street, Mountbatten Way and Worrall Street – finishing in the Park. If you’re not already in the parade – then please support by lining the streets!
The organisers expect the procession to take about 45 minutes to pass each point. The Police will be managing rolling road closures in sections – with roads closed to enable the procession to pass, and opening up as soon as it is safe to do so. There will be some traffic disruption and people are advised to plan their journeys to avoid the town centre area from 11am until about 1.30pm. Coins collected in buckets during the procession will be donated to deserving local charities. Please be generous!
There’s a FREE Fun Day in the Park 11am until 5pm – with fair rides, charity and trade stalls, a variety of street food, bar, Plus Dane chill-out Tepee with ‘Congleton’s Got Talent’ music zone, giant inflatables and activity area. Arena acts will start at 1pm once the procession has arrived in the park.
In the evening Carnival is putting on ‘Party in the Park’ with top tribute bands Too Rex, Bootleg Blondie, Tina Turner by Kinisha, Chip Kendall and the finalists of ‘The Act’. Tickets cost £12 for adults, £5 for children and £30 for a family ticket (2+2). Gates open at 5pm and acts start at 6pm. There will be food stalls and a bar within the Party in the Park compound, or people can bring their own. If the weather is good party goers can enjoy the concert in the open air, but a large marquee is also being erected to give shelter in the event of a ‘Glastonbury’ downpour! Tickets for Party in the Park and Holler can be purchased from the Tourist Information Centre, A&A Music, Retro Shop in Lawton Street and Top Nosh in West Street.
The fun continues on Sunday 13th July with ‘It’s a Knockout’ in Congleton Park. The competition starts at 12 noon with local firms, organisations and groups throwing themselves around a giant inflatable course and getting very wet! Come down and give them some encouragement. It makes for a great spectacle. Many of the stalls and attractions from Saturday’s fun day will also trade on the Sunday.
For the latest Carnival information see the Congleton Carnival 2014 facebook page.
