CHRISTCHURCH Carnival is retuning next month – and with an extra special headliner.
The carnival committee has lined up a magical weekend of music, food and partying in the Quay and High Street on August 12 and 13.
On Saturday, visitors can rock away to a Queen tribute show by the wonderful ‘Platinum Queen’ before enjoying an epic firework finale in the evening.
The main event – the carnival parade – will make its highly anticipated and colourful return on Sunday.
It will be setting off from Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre at 1pm and make its way to the Quay via the High Street.
The carnival chair councillor Viv Charrett will ride in the lead car in all her mayoral regalia.
A huge range of musical and dance talent has been lined up for the rest of the weekend, including local band OneWord who have been supporting the event since they were teenagers.
Also scheduled to perform are RumSoaked, Tread Softly, Galaxy Thief, O’Leary Academy of Irish Dancing, Wessex Majorettes, Just The Two of Us, Kaleidoscope Dancers and Jan’s Gems.
There will be photo opportunities with Stormtroopers from UK Garrison and meet-and-greet sessions with every parent's favourite blue Aussie Character.
On Sunday, Staffie and Stray Rescue from Wimborne will be hosting its annual dog show, with a special dog-friendly yoga session being hosted by Park Yoga at 9.30am.
Plenty of other free and fun activities have been lined up for families, and a charity raffle will feature some great prizes.
Now over 100 years old, Christchurch Carnival is the oldest running event in the town, and has become a major fixture in its calendar.
It is run entirely by a committee of volunteers and aims to raise as much money as possible for charities and good causes.
This year’s proceeds will be split between Christchurch Food Bank and Somerford ARC - a community centre motivated to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of people in the Grange Ward area.
A spokesperson for the carnival committee of 2023 told the Daily Echo: “None of this would happen without our volunteers, marshalls, sponsors and local business support.
"This year's sponsors are Cookes Furniture, Aster Group, Frettens Solicitors and Veolia Environmental Services.
"We would also like to thank local businesses; The Captains Club, Christchurch Harbour Hotel and Kimmeridge Boutique for their generosity in supporting and donating great prizes for our charity raffle.”
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