Skegness Carnival kicks off today
ET79A55HBKB7 : The Skegness Standard reprots on today’s Skegness Carnival
Published Date: 06 August 2010
TRADITIONALISTS who felt the recent SO Festival was not quite to their taste can rejoice at the line-up for this coming week’s Skegness Carnival.
Skegness Carnival Parade 2008 from Skegness Magazine on Vimeo.
That’s because organisers have barely changed a thing. “If it works, we leave it,” carnival committee secretary Julie Chapman says proudly.
“Nearly every event could be classed as on old favourite.
“I can tell you one thing – a lot of hard work goes into it no matter what we do.”
Running from this Sunday, August 8, until the afternoon of Saturday, August 14, the carnival will be thrust into the public domain with a parade bristling with colour and vigour.
Setting out Sunday at 2.30pm, the parade will travel from Heath Road, up to Wainfleet Road, through the centre of town along Lumley Road, then briefly down Drummond Road before trailing back along Grand Parade. While onlookers have no trouble appreciating the eye-catching floats when they’re in motion, it’s what happens in the hours leading up to the big parade which is most impressive.
“You don’t have weeks to put the floats together. Most of it happens the Saturday afternoon and evening before the parade,” explains Julie. “Those with floats depend largely on local businesses donating a driver and a truck to take them around.
“So that truck or vehicle might be in use until Saturday night and then you’ve got to work hurriedly to get it just right.”
Julie says her own passion for the parade comes from the days when her son was a member of the scouts and she used to help design their entry.
The fact that she is married to carnival chairman Brian Chapman may also have something to do with her enthusiasm.
Working on a voluntary basis, the 16 members of the carnival committee have shouldered a huge load since taking it off the hands of the council a dozen years ago.
They are currently appealing for anybody who can donate a few hours to help act as stewards for the Sunday parade. No qualifications other than a willingness to work as a team are needed.
“We are more like a family than a committee really,” says Julie.
“I wouldn’t still be involved if there wasn’t so much enjoyment in it.”
SUNDAY’s PROGRAM, AUGUST 8
11am-5pm Art Exhibition* St Mary’s Church, Winthorpe
2.30pm Parade Skegness
3-7pm Fishing Match Wolla Bank,
(in conjunction with RNLI) between Chapel St Leonards and Sutton on Sea
MONDAY, AUGUST 9
9-11am Pavement Artist Prince Edward Walk sea wall (near the Pier)
11am-5pm Art Exhibition* St Mary’s Church, Winthorpe
2pm Sand Sculpture Competition Central Beach Skegness
7-9pm Junior Competition X-Site Extreme Sports Centre, Seaview Rd, Skegness
7.30pm Tony Orme Showband* St Mary’s Church, Winthorpe
TUESDAY, AUGUST 10
10.30am Treasure Hunt Meet at Tourist Information Centre, Embassy Theatre, Skegness
11am-5pm Art Exhibition* St Mary’s Church, Winthorpe
2pm (register at 1pm) Baby Show (Ages 0-2) Tower Gardens, Skegness
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11
10am-4pm 999 Display and Pier Fields, Grand
Gala Charity and Craft Stalls Parade, Skegness
11am-5pm Art Exhibition* St Mary’s Church, Winthorpe
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12
11am Hotels in Bloom Presentation Tower Gardens, Skegness
11am-5pm Art Exhibition* St Mary’s Church, Winthorpe
2pm (register 1pm) Tiny Tots (Ages 2-5), Bandstand,
Miss Seaside (Ages 3-10) Tower Gardens
Super Heroes (Ages 3-10)
7pm Fancy Dress and Disco The Suncastle, Grand Parade, Skegness
FRIDAY, AUGUST 13
10am-4pm Friday Gala Charity and Craft Stalls Tower Gardens, Skegness
11am-1pm Dog Obedience Demonstration Tower Gardens, Skegness
11am-5pm Art Exhibition* St Mary’s Church, Winthorpe
2pm (register 1pm) Digby’s Pet Show Tower Gardens, Skegness
SATURDAY, AUGUST 14
11am-4pm Circus Day Welcome Inn, Burgh Road, Skegness
* denotes small admission charge
Published 06 August 2010 5:05 PM
Source: Skegness Standard
