Accrington Carnival was under new management this year but it was business as usual as the biennial event attracted the crowds. An estimated total of 10,000 gathered in the town to see the procession   which progressed from Thorneyholme Road to Oak Hill Park on Sunday June 25th.

The organisers got quite wet as it rained early on Sunday morning but although the sun didn’t appear until much later in the day, most of the procession and all of the festivities in the park were not troubled by rain.

Local artists and bands performed on the bandstand stage or in front of it and a great time was had by all. Artists appearing included The Soundcasters, The Escapades and Marching Bones. There were also performances from Ashleigh’s Dance Academy and East Lancs. Cheerleaders and The Accrington Pipe Band.

There were rides, tombola, Beat the Goalie and displays of owls and parrots. There was also a mascot race which included a Police Officer and a minion amongst other mascots from Bowker BMW and Scare Kingdom to name but a few. At the end of the mascot race it was decided that the winner would be decided in the wrestling ring. Thanks to two of the guys from Scare Kingdom, the friendly policeman got a very rough ride, the minion having been dispatched in an earlier round.

In the end the ghoulish winners came for Scare Kingdom, pictured below with their trophy.

North Lancs Training Group (NLTG) were the main and gave the organisers £3,500 to ensure after Accrington Lions pulled out subsequent to the 2015 event that the Carnival lived on. Quite fittingly it was their float that was awarded first prize.

Credit must also go the new Carnival Committee who have been organising the event for the past ten months under the leadership of Gayle Knight of Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre. Her message appears on our Community Events page.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Hyndburn; Councillor Peter Britcliffe and his daughter Sara took to the stage to make the presentations and he quipped that he had ordered the rain to stay away until 6.30 p.m. – and it did.

A special mention also must go the Police who attended the Carnival.  Their presence was necessary as with all such events but they joined in with the crowd, chatting and laughing and as I said one of them even took part in the mascot race. After the events both locally and nationally over the past few months it was a breath of fresh air to see everyone enjoying themselves without a hint of trouble and with a real sense of community. What a wonderful event and well done to everyone involved.

Articles and Pictures © Peter Jones 2017

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