Party in park opens up carnival fun in style (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Party in park opens up carnival fun in style

FAMILIES had fun in the sun as Devizes Carnival fortnight got off to a great start. On Sunday, Hillworth Park was thronging with people who went along to the carnival curtain raiser, Picnic in the Park.

Carnival committee members believe this year's picnic, which was free, attracted record numbers of people.

Carnival chairman Noel Woolrych said: "At one point I counted 1,000 people but there may have been more than that in total.

"Other carnival committee members who have been involved with Picnic in the Park from the beginning four years ago thought this year's had the best attendance.

"We asked the public for their views and everyone was very complimentary. They liked the choice of music, they thought there was good variety and it was a good day out. We had people of all ages attending, from tiny babies to grandparents."

Most people brought their own food but for those who did not there was barbecued food for sale and a licensed bar.

Children were entertained by Kooky the Clown and Mrs Kooky the Clown painted youngsters' faces which was very popular.

The Gazette's mascot Gilbert the Gator attracted the interest of many children and there was also a bouncy castle for them.

This year carnival organisers had one more band than in previous years and they played for an hour each.

The bands were The Jelly Roll Boys which played blues music, the Chippenham-based Celebration Jazz Band, Devizes Town Band which plays brass music and rounding the afternoon off was tribute band Same Old Faces who played music from the 1960s and 1970s including glam rock.

Mr Woolrych said: "People were dancing on the grass which we have not had before. It was a great atmosphere. All the performers said afterwards that there was a great buzz."

The next big carnival event is the Bank Holiday Street Festival on Monday when bands and entertainers will be performing all day in Devizes Market Place.

On Wednesday the Market Place will be strewn with confetti for the wacky confetti battle. The evening will begin at 7pm with Beating the

Retreat by the Devizes Boys Brigade Old Boys Band. The confetti battle gets under way at 8pm when the confetti cannons go off and at 8.30pm there will be a fireworks display and fun fair.

A new event, a salsa dancing evening, takes place this Sunday at the town hall. Tickets cost £6 from Devizes Books in Sidmouth Street.