THOUSANDS of people will line the streets of Ringwood this weekend when the town’s popular carnival returns.

The event on Saturday will see two processions take place; one at 2pm and another at 7.15pm with community floats, vehicles, marching bands and steam engines coming together for the spectacle.

Meridian Corps of Drums, Dolphin Marching Band and Raw Samba are just some of the bands set to provide musical entertainment as part of the procession.

In between the processions there will be a host of activities taking place at the carnival’s usual home of The Bickerley after being held at Carvers Recreation Ground for the last two years while Wessex Water installed new pipework and drainage to protect the area from sewer flooding.

The Village Green will be making a comeback with a larger funfair open from 12noon until late plus there will be activities from 12.30pm including circus skills workshops and Bollywood dancing.

New for this year will be the New Forest Harley Owners Group who will be making their debut appearance and leading processions from the front. Visitors will also get the chance to see the bikes on show in a static display on Southampton Road.

A spectacular firework display will bring the event to a close at The Bickerley at 9.30pm.

Ringwood Carnival usually attracts around 10,000 people including many from outside the area.

Chairperson Alix Gardner said: “We are one of the only expanding successful community carnivals. We are still going strong and that’s something to be proud of.”

Ringwood Carnival is run entirely by volunteers and relies on local sponsorship.

Each year between £4,000 and £5,000 is collected during the event which is then put back into the community.

Ringwood Carnival first took place in 1928 and the first carnival after the war was held in 1950 with events taking place every year since.