SPECIAL 40th ANNIVERSARY CARNIVAL PROGRAMME
Castle Cary and Ansford Carnival Society are delighted to announce a very special programme of entertainment to celebrate their 40-year anniversary.
Key highlights include:
- Exciting partnerships with Ansford Academy and Castle Cary Primary School
- Bringing international carnival acts to the town, including from Notting Hill
- Celebrating with an afternoon of music before the illuminated procession
- Cary Comedians carnival club comeback!
- Hosting a children’s festival after the children’s carnival
- Celebrations boosted by an Arts Council England funding grant
… with a huge thanks to all our sponsors.
The illuminated evening carnival is on 14 October, starting at 7pm. The programme of music starts at 2:30pm, outside the Market House, Castle Cary.
Exciting partnerships with Ansford Academy and Castle Cary Primary School
“The response from both our local schools to getting more involved with the carnival has been wonderful.” says Jeannie Thanisch, Treasurer.
Castle Cary Primary School have an after school carnival group who participate every year in the children’s carnival. This year their creativity will be getting an extra boost through costume design workshops led by one of Notting Hill carnival’s best known clubs; Mahogany Carnival Design.
Ansford Academy is taking up the challenge to “create a cart” in just weeks for the illuminated evening carnival. The Carnival Society is giving resources like a trailer, paint, wood, and expertise from people with years of experience in building carts.
Bringing international carnival acts to the town, including from Notting Hill
To help the town celebrate carnival in style there will be the glitz, music and lights of the big floats, the engaging entertainment of our fabulous masqueraders walking through the town, and troupes of twirling majorettes.
And we also have some very special entries this year.
Bands!
This year, our favourite HMS Heron Volunteer Band are joined by the young talent of the Meridian Corps of Drums, and new to Cary the bagpipes and swirling kilts of City of Bristol Pipes and Drums.
And finally from Rio, via Bath, come Jamma de Samba! Bringing up to 30 drummers, channeling international carnival beats to our streets!
Notting Hill comes to Cary!
The international carnival theme continues, as Mahogony Carnival Club, regulars in the Notting Hill extravaganza come to Cary, strutting their stuff with multi-coloured, ten feet high costumes.
Celebrating with an afternoon of music before the illuminated procession
As part of celebrating our 40th anniversary, there will be a programme of afternoon entertainment from 2pm outside the Market House, Castle Cary, leading up to the procession. Some details are still being finalised, however currently highlights include:
Pantasy Steel Band, bringing to Cary the best tropical beats with classic pop and reggae tracks on their own and with Ansford Academy’s steel band.
Somerset Hills Chorus, a fabulous, toe-tapping up to 20-strong acapella group, who last year reached national finals.
Re-live the magical sounds of the Shadows, with the fabulous Justin Daish, as Hank Marvin’s double comes to town! Cary’s very own high-stepping twirlers the Cygnet Majorettes
And ahead of the procession, let Chris Banderas, professional rock guitarist, take the surface off the asphalt with some classic anthems! He has played with two major signed bands and performed thousands of gigs across the globe.
Cary Comedians carnival club comeback!
After courageously entering as a walking group last year, 2017 sees the town’s very own carnival club, Cary Comedians, back on four (and more) wheels! “It’s been a massive task,” says
Club Chairman, Steve Higgins. “But we are back and raring to go!” Castle Cary and Ansford Carnival Society were delighted to include helping out the Comedians in th
eir Arts Council England bid. And even more delighted when they could give £4000 to the Comedians for them to purchase 6000 new lights.
“We are extremely grateful for their generous donation from their successful application.” said Steve.
It is a fantastic achievement to get back on the road, when over 50% of carnival clubs have closed in recent years.
A children’s festival after the children’s carnival
As well as the usual colourful and varied Ann Hallett Children’s Carnival procession starring over 100
local children; after the procession, outside the Market House, Castle Cary, there will be singing and maypole dancing by our primary school children. Flavours of the fair with hot-dogs and candyfloss, face-painting and mask making will make it a great afternoon of entertainment for all the children there.
As are also just confirming a circus act to further enliven the procession and the festival!
Celebrations boosted by an Arts Council England funding grant
It costs around £7,000 to put on the Children’s and Illuminated Carnivals every year. This comes from a year-round programme of local fund-raising, and the Society is extremely grateful to the generosity of local businesses and the town’s people. This is critical if we are to bring such a spectacle to our towns, and continue to make financial donations to local charitable causes in excess of £2000 every year.
“For our 40th anniversary we wanted to do something really special” said General Secretary, Caroline Sharley. “Everyone on the committee agreed to put in the work needed to put forward a strong bid to Arts Council England. It was a huge amount of work, way more than anticipated when we started! We were thrilled to be successful on our first attempt.”
“We really hope people enjoy the new and different entries and acts,” commented Paul Burch, Entries and Judging Secretary, “It’s so important to continue our local unique tradition of carnival in Somerset – we hope some people are inspired to get involved.”
Specifically, the grant has made it possible to:
- Bring Mahogany, one of the world famous Notting Hill Carnival clubs down to Cary. Their spectacular costumes will be in the procession, and they are working with our local primary and secondary schools bringing their very different, international renowned costume making skills.
- Give expertise and materials to Ansford Academy for their “create a cart” challenge
- Light up Cary Comedians cart in their comeback year, paying for 6000 new LED lights
- Bring some world-class and different artists to come to the town. Jamma de Samba from Bath will be in the procession, and Pantasy Steel Band from Bristol who will play in the afternoon music festival.
AND A huge thanks to all our sponsors.
“It’s been wonderful that so many local businesses have wanted to sponsor us in our anniversary year.” said Di Pinnions, Chair, Castle Cary and Ansford Carnival Society. “Many have upped the amount they give to make our carnivals really special this year, and we want to heartily thank each and every one of them.”
| The George Hotel and White Hart | Lead sponsor |
| Cinema in Caryford | Lead sponsor, sponsoring the City of Bristol Pipes and Drums |
| Wyke Farms | Sponsor |
| BGW Solicitors | Sponsoring the Male Majorettes |
| Battens Solicitors Charitable Trust | Sponsor |
| Ansford Parish Council | Sponsor |
| The Horse Pond Inn | Sponsor, and sponsoring Lizzie the Fire Eating Lizard |
| Heather’s Flowers | Sponsoring Chris Banderas |
| John Boyd Textiles Ltd | Sponsor |
| The Pinnions Family | Sponsoring The Somerset Hills Chorus |