Carnival 2003 - Circus
News - Focus, June 2003
ROLL UP! ROLL UP!
THE CIRCUS CARNIVAL IS ON ITS WAY
Saturday 5th July is fast approaching and details of the 2003 St Mary’s Village Carnival are now being finalised. If you fancy winning a luxury weekend trip to Rome for two, now is the time to buy your tickets for the Grand Draw as this wonderful break is this year’s first prize. As well as this there are plenty of other wonderful prizes, many generously donated by local sponsors.
This year’s attractions
Attractions at this year’s Carnival will not only include the popular Lambrini hot air balloon, giving rides on the day (and a great view of the villages!) but for the first time at the Carnival the Lambrini stretch limousine will also attend. A number of other motor vehicles will also be on display in the classic car exhibition. A dog show will be part of the Carnival again, (with the winners parading in the arena during the afternoon). If you would like to enter your dog in the show, please look at the website for full details, although it is possible to enter your dog on the day – judging starts in the morning.
Other attractions include the Birds of Bray, dance displays, chainsaw carving, giant slides and a Ferris wheel. There will also be craft displays and in keeping with the Circus theme of this year’s Carnival, a circus skills workshop. The Thames Valley Police Crime Prevention Unit will also attend.
Can you charm worms?
On Saturday 5th July 1980 local farmer's son, Tom Shufflebotham amazed a disbelieving world by charming a total of 511 worms out of the ground in half an hour at the first Worm Charming event in Willaston, Cheshire to raise money for a School Fete. 23 years to the day after this astonishing feat St Mary’s Village Carnival will try to recreate the event on the Green. 100 3m square grids will be marked out for competitors. Strict rules will apply – see the Carnival Programme for full details!
To enter this amazing new competition, just turn up on the day – and don’t forget your garden fork!
Competitions!
If you’d like to get involved in the Carnival why not enter the fancy dress competition? There will be two categories, one for best child’s costume and one for best family costume (family is designed as a minimum of one adult + one child) with prizes for the winners of each category. Judging will take place at 3pm – just turn up in your costume. Alternatively, for youngsters aged 16 and under, there is a Video Diary competition. To enter this competition you will need access to either a digital camera or a camcorder, and will need to take pictures of the Carnival, to make a video diary to be submitted to the Carnival organisers by 19th July. The competition is open to individuals and to groups, provided all participants are aged 16 years or under. Full details are given on the Carnival website.
This year will be the 10th year in which houses along the Carnival Procession route have been decorated. Prizes are awarded (courtesy of the Leighton Buzzard Observer) to the best-decorated house in Eaton Bray and in Edlesborough. Why not decorate your house this year?
Helping out
As ever, the Carnival could not take place without the help of many local individuals and businesses. It’s not too late to offer your help at the Carnival. A village event like ours requires a lot of people power. If you can help with any of the following, please contact Gordon Gray or visit the carnival website:
- On Friday evening, 4th July, 6.30 – 8pm, transporting equipment;
- On Saturday morning, 5th July, 7.30 – 11am, erecting stalls, tents etc;
- On Saturday afternoon, 5th July, from 2 – 5pm helping on a stall;
- On Saturday afternoon, 5th July, for up to 2 hours in the Tea Tent;
- On Saturday evening, 5th July, from 5 – 8pm, helping to clear the Green.
Every body will help, even if you can only spare an hour.
The Carnival Procession begins from The Orchards, Eaton Bray at 1pm, and the Carnival will be opened by Sue Parker at 1.30pm on Edlesborough Green. So roll up for a great day out!
© Focus Magazine 2003
