MUSIC, dancing and a procession will be lighting up the High Street in Royal Wootton Bassett this weekend as the 40th carnival gets under way.

Celebrations will start in the High Street from midday on Saturday with entertainment from bands, dancers and a magician followed by the procession, which leaves from the top of Marlowe Way at 4.30pm.

Committee member, Gillian Hughes, said it will be a day to remember.

“There is a really big buzz about it this year around the town. A lot more local groups have got involved,” she said.

“It has to be a day to remember, it is such a special year with the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics. It is our 40th year and a lot of groups have embraced that. We have got lots of procession entries this year.

“All the floats have made their own different themes from the Diamond Jubilee to the Olympics. One of the floats in the procession has used the year we started as their theme, which was 1972.”

There will be a performance from the town’s brass band as well as ceroc dancers, Cricklade Silver Band and a DJ in the High Street.

There will also be a steel band in Boroughfields, as well as a magician and balloon blowers.

A total of 15 groups are taking part in the procession, including Wootton Bassett Rotary, Maslins Electrical, Lucy Pet Carer, The Five Bells, Fourth Wootton Bassett Brownies, Royal Wootton Bassett Diamond Jubilee Committee, Allsorts Pre-School and Longleaze Pre-school.

Heron Beaver Scouts, Rent a Camper, OCCP, Apache Cubs, Wootton Bassett Twinning Association, Wootton Bassett School for Dance and Maddisons Grocers will also be taking part.

Wessex Military Band will be entertaining the crowds during the procession.

“We have got some great entertainment in the procession but we are keeping that a surprise,” she said.

“People should come to support their local community and hopefully make it our biggest event ever.

“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.”

As part of this year’s celebrations, the committee will be creating a display of old photos looking back to 1972.

For more information visit www.woottonbassettcarnival.com