Royal Wootton Bassett ready to get into carnival spirit (From Swindon Advertiser)

Royal Wootton Bassett ready to get into carnival spirit

6:10pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News By Emma Dunn

AS PLANS for this year’s Royal Wootton Bassett Carnival get under way, the search for the next carnival queen has started.

Organisers are looking for school age youngsters to enter the competition at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy on April 23, ready for the carnival on May 18.

They are also taking entries for floats for the procession and are hoping as many businesses as possible will get involved.

Committee member Gillian Hughes, said: “As the 2013 Wootton Bassett Carnival draws closer, the first event to kick-off the festivities is the annual carnival queen contest.”

Categories include butterfly princess, for reception to Year 2 age; carnival princess, for Year 3 to Year 6, and carnival queen, for Year 7 upwards.

Anyone wanting to compete should arrive between 5pm to 5.30pm for registration.

This carnival started in 1972 .

“It is a great community event and I love that Wootton Bassett is a town that still has a carnival. Carnivals are a dying breed so it is nice to keep it going,” said Gillian.

“People should come to support their local community and hopefully make it one of our biggest events ever. It will be a family occasion and there will be lots of different sorts of music.”

The committee is inviting businesses, clubs and pubs to join the procession.

There are seven categories, including decorated vehicles – pubs and licensed sports and social clubs, decorated vehicles – families, private groups and organisations, and decorated trade and commercial vehicles and walking entries Organisers are holding a fundraiser for the carnival on May 11, which will see councillors, teachers, company bosses and well known faces from around the town getting soaked.

Votes are being taken for the people who will take part.

For more information visit woottonbassettcarnival.com.