THIS year’s Christmas Carnival parade in Boscombe will be setting off from Pokesdown for the first time in its 18-year history on Sunday.

The popular dance and drumming groups, bands and majorettes will be joined by vintage vehicles, Star Wars stormtroopers, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot at Pokesdown Railway Station for the start of the parade at around 3pm.

They will pass a covered market with crafts and hot food, running from 11am to 4pm on the day at Pokesdown Green, before heading down Christchurch Road to the Precinct, where there will be a host of stalls, children’s rides and other entertainments.

Bournemouth Male Voice Choir will perform outside the O2 Academy at 3.30pm, Father Christmas will be handing out presents, and the Christmas lights will be switched on in the precinct by the Snow Queen, Prince and Princess at around 4.15pm.

Organiser Cindy Jermon said it would be the biggest carnival in Boscombe since she started organising it nearly two decades ago.

“As the parade is leaving from Pokesdown this year there are a lot more people taking part, as well as people who normally get involved in Christmas events in Poole, so it is great news for Boscombe,” she said.

“It has been quite tricky to organise this year as we have had problems with road closures and that sort of thing, but I have had a lot of help from Boscombe neighbourhood warden Amanda Catlin, who has worked really hard.

“But hopefully with a sunny day we will get a good turnout and it will be a fun day for all.

“The carnival has come a long way since we started; back then it was just Father Christmas on a steam train, and it was pouring with rain.

“We work on a very, very small budget and are dependent on the donations we receive from Dave Wells Properties, Bournemouth Council and Wessex Water.”

The carnival raises funds for the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals.

Find out what other events are happening are bournemouthecho.co.uk/christmas