Melksham is ready to party!

Thousands are expected to gather for the annual Melksham Carnival and Party in the Park on Saturday 12th July.

The Party in the Park starts at 1pm at the King George V Playing Field offering a fabulous line-up of live music and entertainment right through to late evening. Headlining are top Abba tribute band Arrival UK with a fantastic live show

Other live music comes from The Ray Jones Band, The AK-Poets, local rock band Dirty ‘Arry, calypso artist Antigua Joe and 16-year-old Melksham favourite Courtney Buchanan amongst others.

Entertainment will include tightrope walking, a football shoot-out, martial arts display and climbing wall, while Titan the Robot returns again this year, parading his skills in the arena. Stalls will include local organisations, jewellery, food, ice cream,  and raffles.

As always, there will be the grand fireworks display at around 10.10pm with more music until the close at 11.00pm. The Party will break at 6.00pm for the Melksham Carnival as a whole array of colourful floats, bands and walking groups take to the streets to entertain the crowds, starting from the Cooper Avon car park.

Four categories will be judged in this year’s carnival; best float, best walking group, best baton team and best school. Mayor, cllr Teri Welch, will also give a trophy to her choice in the procession.

A full round up of the day is on the centre pages.

Melksham Carnival chairman Simon Hedley said, “Melksham Carnival is starting to shape up and looks to be better than ever before.

“We have had some new entries from companies and schools in the procession this year and there has been a massive amount of time and effort put into the floats, costumes and music.

“We have some fantastic bands this year for your listening and viewing pleasure and three amazing groups who will be baton twirling for the crowds.”

Carnival secretary Beth Dark added, “We have an entry from Melksham Oak school which has taken a huge amount of hard work from the students, so we are very excited about this.  We also have our beautiful Malina Skuse who is our Queen of Queens in the procession this year too.”

Party in the Park chairman Tom Sangster said, “The Party in the Park is well established now and in its 15th year. It’s a high profile event in the town with seven to eight thousand people coming across the course of the day. We are hoping for another good turn out and nice weather!

“When an Abba band played five years ago it was a huge success and there was maximum turn out. We believe we can equal that this year with the Abba Spectacular.”

Admission charges to the Party in the Park are £4 per person (16 and above),  £2 (11 to 15 year olds), with under 11s free of charge. You only pay once as wrist bands are given at the entrance.

If you would like to help on the day or in advance, please email melkshamparty@fsmail. net call Beth Dark on  791193, or pop in and see Simon Hedley at CJ’S in the Littlebrook Centre, Bath Road.