The People's Carnival
RECORD numbers of people attended this year's People's Carnival at Alexandra Park on June 28th and 29th, confirming once and for all, to the Carnival organisers, that the event is firmly back in town as the main community festival on the town's calendar of events.
PARADE SUCCESS
The Carnival Parade (sponsored this year by Contour Housing Group) attracted happy and smiling crowds all along the parade route - which took the paraders up Park Road, down Ashton Road to Honeywell Lane, then along Honeywell Lane back to the park.
Onlookers enjoyed a return to traditional carnival antics like fancy dress, floats and charity collectors as the whole area rocked to the sounds of the many music genres blasting out of powerful PA systems on floats and in vans.
A BLAZE OF COLOUR
A blaze of vibrant colour, which took an hour and a quarter to pass a single point, lit up Glodwick, Promrose Bank, Hathershaw and Fitton Hill as Dance Troupes, cyclists, decorated wagons, Classic Minis, costumed groups and a large continigent of invading vikings, appeared like a multi-coloured snake winding its way to its destination at Alexandra Park.
REMINISCENT OF THE PAST
As a spectacle of community spirit and harmony the parade attracted lively entrants from all communities, races and colours and the onlooking crowds reflected that also. "After three year's organising this event" said Paul Davies from the Carnival Management Group "we believe it finally matured on June 28th. The crowds along the route really got behind the parade and it was reminiscent of how it used to be".
FUTURE ROSY
The parade now moves on to 2009 and the organisers are looking at new ideas to build on this year's success. "We're learning each year" said Paul "dropping what doesn't work anymore and introducing new things that reflect today's Oldham".