Tuesday, 7th February 2012

Sunshine joy at carnival

sd3517078carnival-hold-for.jpgThe sun shone on Newport last weekend as organisers hailed the 37th annual town carnival.

Thousands of people took to the streets and to Shuker Field to watch a number of live acts perform on stage and enjoy all the activities on offer.

Alongside the parade, fun fair and musical entertainment two fun-loving goblins walked among the revellers.

And, riding high, were two “bumblebees” on stilts who stopped to pose for photographs.

Debbie Owen from Sambrook, who was at the carnival, said: “I go to the carnival every year and I thought this year’s was smashing.

“It was lovely to watch the precession. There are so many people involved and hundreds of people were turned out to watch – it really was amazing.

“Everyone performed brilliantly. A local dance school did a performance which went really well and I thought the band were absolutely excellent.

“It really was a great day and the weather held out for everybody. I think everyone had a lovely day.”

Newport resident Anna Bailey attended the carnival with her children Grace, five, and Harry, three.

She said: “I thought the day was really good. The dancers that I saw were brilliant and there was a really good atmosphere. The town was absolutely packed and it was good see all the community come together.

“All the little ones dressed up looked really cute and I thought the girls on the stilts were good. The dancers that I saw were also brilliant.

“The only complaint I have was the prices of some if the fairground rides. I think, perhaps, they should bring them down a little bit so the kids can go on a few more.”

Lorraine Pilgrim, the carnival’s outgoing treasurer, said it was a memorable year.

She said: “We had a fantastic carnival, it was certainly one of our best. The weather was very kind to us so I think that brought a lot of people out.

“We thought some might not come because of the football but there was a great turnout and we had thousands of people here.”

By Joseph Masi