Making the most of carnival 2025!
Evening Illuminated Carnival, Saturday 11 October from 7pm
The parade leaves Ansford Academy before winding its way through the town and ending along Station Road.
Carnival spirit comes to Cary in style, with the glitz, music and lights of the big floats, the engaging entertainment of our fabulous masqueraders walking through the town, a variety of bands and troupes of twirling majorettes.
Here are a few things to look out for this year …
Before the procession
Food outlets
Food and drinks this year will all be provided by local pubs, shops and carnival’s own authentic German sausage stall. We want to give every opportunity to support our local community!
Bands!
Our favourite HMS Heron Volunteer Band will be joined by the young talent of the Dolphin Marching Band and this year our South American rhythms come from Blackdown Samba Band – give them a toe-tapping, hip-wiggling ‘welcome back’ to Cary!
PLUS – a band we’ve always wanted to have the Bournemouth Carnival Band aka ‘The Spiderman Band’. I know – sounds mad! And we can’t wait!!!
So, about the floats then?
For the floats, the great news is that our town’s own Castle Cary Comedians are out again. Last year they channelled their carnival spirit and carried on dancing even though their generator failed in the centre of town. ‘Oh crop’ indeed! This year, let’s wish them much better luck, with their entry ‘Rear ended’!
Kipling Carnival Club from Shaftesbury with ‘Hillbilly Joe’s Live Country Music Club’ are back, and two great clubs return both after a year’s absence; the mighty Hot Rock, with their entry ‘Freight Train’ and the only tableau float will be back. A huge Cary welcome to Flamenco Festival, from Magnum Carnival Club.
After the procession
This year the carnival results will be announced outside the Market House – as quickly as we can process the Judges’ scores. So, it’s party time in the town centre, with the Blackdown Samba Band back to entertain the crowd, and more tunes and tracks from Les Chaffe.
A great time to support our local pubs and bars!
BRING IT ON!!