Carnival is nearly here! (From This is The West Country)

Carnival is nearly here!

4:15pm Thursday 11th October 2012 in News

THERE are now just a few days to go before the 45th Chard Carnival lights up the town’s streets.

Organisers are making last-minute preparations ahead of Saturday’s parade – the culmination of many months of hard work for the small and committed band of volunteers.

One thing they can’t control is the weather, and they are keeping their fingers crossed that Chard enjoys a dry night just as Ilminster did last weekend.

This year’s main beneficiaries of the Carnival collection are the RNLI and Headway Somerset, and organisers hope the collecting buckets will be overflowing with donations.

The procession will feature about 40 entries with ten floats, walking masqueraders, groups and majorettes.

Among the local favourites are Club 2000 with Arctic Attack and Eclipse CC with Moscow, who made Ilminster Carnival a big success on Saturday.

Regardless who wins the top prize, everyone who takes part in Carnival is a winner, and organisers are hoping the crowds will show their appreciation by digging deep for charity.

Since the Carnival was revived in Chard 45 years ago the organisers over the years have amassed a staggering £95,000 for charities and organisations.

They would love to make it to £100,000 this year, so they are urging spectators to dig deep and give as much as you can.