Hundreds descended on the streets of Titchfield for this year’s carnival – despite the blustery winds and spits of rain.
About 25 floats ranging from fictional characters in the Wizard of Oz and Where’s Wally to the fire engines and Bursledon Brickworks steam engines paraded through the streets of the village.
Watch The Gazette’s video of this year’s carnival
It was the first year for the carnival chairperson to walk in the procession, but Kate Scott was determined to make the 2013 carnival have a bit of a twist.
So she and the other members of Titchfield Bonfire Boys Society, which organises the annual carnival, organised for pumpkin-themed games earlier in the day to kick off the celebrations. Youngsters enjoyed pumpkin rolling, a tea cosy competition and arts and crafts with an orange theme.
And as the storm brewed, she said they had to consider not lighting the beacon this year, for health and safety reasons. But scores of pumpkins were lit to give an added Halloween feel to the festivities.
“The crowds seem to be enjoying it,” said Kate. “Everyone seems to be well-receiving the car procession.
“We had a two-hour delay because people didn’t move their cars from where the big lorry for the stage was going to be. The band couldn’t set up on time and couldn’t sound check on time.
“The pumpkin bowling went well in West Street.
“It’s the first time a committee chairman has walked in the procession. It’s an honour to my great grandmother, Maude Carse, who kept the carnival going through the wars.”
The Meridian Corps of Drums and the Dolphin Marching Band performed beautifully with their instruments. Meanwhile the Hands family from Titchfield with Wizard of Oz characters led the main floats, with others following suit, including scary Dr Who characters, the Queen’s Head Egyptians, Laura Dunkley’s School of Performing Arts’ Matilda school characters and the Upshall family from Whiteley as Where’s Wally.
Click on one of our photos below to open up the picture gallery.
