BROMSGROVE Carnival is set to return for the first time since 2019, boasting a fun-filled packed weekend next Friday and Saturday, July 15 and 16.
The district’s biggest free-to-attend event will kick off with Friday night open-air cinema in Sanders Park where residents can enjoy street food and drinks.
The film will get under way at 9.30pm (gates open at 7.30pm) and people have been voting for what film they would like to see via the Bromsgrove Carnival Facebook page.
Among the options are Cool Runnings, Jumanji, Encanto, Dirty Dancing, The Greatest Showman and Mary Poppins Returns.
Then on Saturday, the festivities get underway at midday with the famous lorry float procession through the town.
The parade will be led by Town Crier Kevin Ward and the theme this year will be based on the Commonwealth Games which begin in Birmingham later this month.
Each lorry float will showcase its interpretation of a specific country’s culture.
The procession will come to a stop outside Sanders Park for judging and trophies will be handed out on the main stage.
Fairfield First School is representing Australia and staff and students were delighted to receive a good luck video call from Alan Fletcher, who plays Karl Kennedy from Neighbours.
In the carnival arena in Sanders Park, there will be live music, plenty of stalls and a fairground.
Then at 5pm there will be the children’s fun run challenge, where under-eights will run 800metres and under-11s will run 1,500metres around the Park before collecting their medals.
This will be followed by the popular Timberhonger 10k challenge from 6pm as well as a 5k event starting 10 minutes later that will be new for this year.
The challenge will start and finish at Sanders Park and will see participants go through picturesque country roads, with many testing hills.
Everyone who finishes the race will be given a medal and a can of beer.
People will be able to make donations with proceeds going back into the carnival’s three chosen community charities – The Basement Project, Sense and Bromsgrove District Scouts.
Visit facebook.com/bromsgrovecarnival for more information.
