Extravaganza of carnival whoopee

11:21am Friday 22nd August 2008

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In halls and churches throughout the Devizes area the finishing touches are being made to carnival costumes and props in advance of the big procession on Saturday August 30.

For some years now, Devizes Carnival has attracted funding from the Arts Council and the Big Lottery to underwrite workshops in costume and prop making led by carnival experts from the Isle of Wight.

But with a special £10,000 grant this year, applied for in conjunction with Wiltshire Youth Arts Partnership, Schools Extended Services Network, Wiltshire Alternative Youth Sports and Wiltshire Police's Splash project, groups have been able to learn circus skills like stilt walking and juggling.

As a result, this year's carnival procession will see a huge rise in the number of walking entries.

The Big Lottery money has also been invested in training young people to form a youth samba band. The musicians have been in training with expert Felix Gibbons for some time but the school will continue this week and is open to all comers, for a small fee.

For more details, contact Dave Buxton on (01380) 723099.

Carnival fever will start on Monday when there will be more acts than ever at Devizes Carnival's bank holiday Monday street festival.

With 20 acts from all over the country, and from the European Union, the event is expected to attract over 10,000 visitors to the town.

There will be four performance areas in the Market Place, with a stage erected outside the Corn Exchange, performances in The Brittox and strolling performers who could turn up anywhere.

French company Raz'Bitumes are coming all the way from Rouen, while Lunasa are one of Ireland's most popular bands of the moment. Spectacle will be provided by Calvos Dos, Neighbourhood Watch Stilts International and Circo Rum Baba.

Lunasa will be joined on the Corn Exchange stage by Skelad, the Klezmer Festival Band and Smerins Anti-Social Club.

There will be local talent from Devizes-based clown Fraser Hooper, Kaya Drums from Wilcot and the Devizes' Oi Sambistas.

Skelad will also be playing in The Lamb Inn and Al O'Kane and guests in the Pelican.

The fun entertainment starts at 10.30am and will run until 6.15pm.