It’s carnival time
FINGERS will be crossed for warm weather as Stockport gets ready for its biggest event of the year.
Stockport Carnival will take place on Saturday and a parade sets off from Belmont Way, Heaton Norris, at 1pm.
There will be around 60 floats or walking groups and they will take around an hour to make their way to Woodbank Park, Offerton, where there will be a fun day in full swing.
The fun day will have all its normal attractions of displays, a fun fair, carnival Queens - who will head the parade - as well as other new offerings.
Among these will be donkey rides, a children’s petting zoo, a demonstration from Manchester Dogs Home, meerkats and reptiles including snakes.
There will also be a car boot sale from 8am to 4pm.
Last year the theme for the parade was the Wild West but this year there is not one.
Natasha Bourke, from the organising committee, explained: “We thought we would let people chose their own theme to make it personal to them.
“The Queens are an important part of the day, they lead the parade and then have an arena at the fun day where they welcome royalty from other areas.
“It should be a great day, I think the carnival shows that as a community we can all come together and make things happen.
“The fact that it is still going strong after more than 100 years shows how important an event this is.”
The annual event draws in thousands of people and also raises cash for charity with around £6,000 typically raised.
Money is split between local causes including Stepping Hill’s neo-natal unit and The Wellspring homeless charity.
According to weather reports although temperatures will cool as the week progresses, Saturday in Stockport will be dry with sunny spells and a high of 20 degrees.
There will be a giant car boot sale at Woodbank Park from 8am with people welcome to turn up on the day for a pitch (£12 for a car, £20 for two and £15 for a van).
Luba Brown, chair of the organising committee, said: “People should come and support the carnival, it is Stockport’s biggest event.
“We are trying to unite people and support worthy causes, so come and show your community spirit.”
Anyone wishing to take part in the parade, join the committee or help out on the day can call Luba on 07779 153836.
If you’re going to the carnival, stop by the Stockport Express stall and meet our team.