Horley Carnival makes a fun-packed return to the town on Saturday (June 16) with hours of free entertainment promised for all ages.
A host of new attractions will amuse crowds at Horley Recreation Ground this year along with older favourites, and for the second year running the festivities will close with a free fireworks display.
With a theme of heroes and villains, hundreds of costumed contributors, many of them children from local schools and youth groups, will sweep through the town in a colourful and noisy carnival parade . They will be joined this year by four bands, with music ranging from samba to pipers.
The floats will make their way from the Victoria Road car park, along Massetts Road, Russell Crescent and Victoria Road, setting off at 12.30pm and reaching Horley Recreation Ground in Brighton Road about 40 minutes later. Drivers are warned that a rolling road closure will be in place.
The Carnival Ground will open from midday until 5pm with dozens of stands and attractions, and local groups ranging from the Women’s Institute to Territorial Army will be represented.
For the second year running, a free fireworks display will light up the sky as it gets dark, at around 9.45pm.
Horley Mayor and chairman of the carnival committee, Mike George, said new attractions this year include a Tanzanian acrobatic troupe, a petting zoo and a dog display team.
(Image: Grant Melton)
And don’t be surprised if you get approached by a walking, talking animal, as there may be some animatronic creatures around the ground.
The carnival was reborn in 2012 and is now a firm favourite in the town’s calendar.
“It is a huge event,” said Mr George. “Everybody knows it, everybody expects it now. As soon as we finish one year people ask what date it will be on the following year.”