Bigger, Better And Bolder Than Ever!
Castle Cary & Ansford’s Illuminated Carnival last Saturday, really built on its reputation for smooth running and a warm, friendly atmosphere to give the enlarged crowd a sparkling night out.
A programme of afternoon events got the party started good and early. Kicking things off, with a hilarious routine, were the pom-poms, stubble and high kicks of the New Male Majorettes. Then as crowds gathered came local band “A Cunning Plan”, joined by a red hot 1966 Ford Mustang from Haynes International Motor Museum.
By 7pm, the crowd of 5,000 were ready for the main event – which certainly more than lived up to expectations.
Winning best local and best comic float, Cary Comedians, with their Freddie Mercury inspired rocking and rolling Carnival Queen were first of the big – hitting floats. Four majorettes troops, HMS Heron Band, and another ‘new to Cary’ entrant the Blackdown Samba band kept up the pace.
The Poole naval field gun display team hit town with a bang, as they assembled and disassembled a battlefield lookalike field gun en route.
The standard of walking Masqueraders was extremely high; another local favourite again taking home some silverware was Edward Harbin, impressing as Wellington this year. Also, Sue Pexton as a fabulously glamourous Ms Piggie. Best overall Masquerader was Bauta Vogue Roger Muspratt-Hamilton.
The creativity and impact of the big floats seemed to go up another notch this year. Hot Rock’s Chinese inspired Temple of Light, Allsorts carnival club’s mythical Medusa, and all took home prizes, with the Kipling Juvenile Carnival Club’s London to Paris – The Race winning Spectator’s Choice, and Best Open Float.
The evening raised £2,400, up a staggering 33% on last year’s total.
CCACS Treasury Ann Emery said, “We are delighted with the amount raised. We will able to help so many more local good causes. It’s great that Cary’s carnival really hit the high notes this year. So many people in the local community put in so much work throughout the year to make it a really good night, it is fabulous when you hear and see such great feedback from the crowd.”