A WHOLE day of fun is planned for Wokingham this Sunday as the annual winter carnival returns.
This year, the event has the theme Best of British and includes fun stalls, live music, a carnival procession and carol singing around a Christmas tree.
Charities and groups have taken out stalls in Denmark Street, Peach Street and Broad Street for the day of celebration, which is one of the region’s biggest outdoor street events.
Funfair rides and live entertainment add to the daytime fun, with acts including the Murphy Brass Band, a clarinet choir and the Vivaldi Strings.
Street entertainment will come from Circus Scene and see clowns, jugglers and stilt walkers wandering the town.
Magic and a Punch and Judy show will be performed in Erfstadt Court, while in Denmark Street a jazz band and Reading Scottish Pipe Band will play. Morris dancing troupes, including Berkshire Bedlam and OBJ Morris, will also be performing.
Santa’s grotto will be in Wokingham Library, which will host more fun, including performances from the Berkshire Maestros Recorders and Song Maker Choirs, plus a visit from fairy tale characters thanks to the Enchanted Players Theatre Company.
And to echo the Christmas story, there will be a visit from the Little Dallas Donkeys, who will be in situ in Peach Street.
ALL THE TIMINGS FOR THE WINTER CARNIVAL CLICK HERE
The day’s festivities culminate in a carnival procession through the streets of Wokingham, before arriving at the Town Hall in Market Place where Santa will join in community carol singing led by Father Richard Lamey from St Paul’s Church.
The event helps raise thousands of pounds for charities and this year’s chosen good causes are the Macmillan Cancer Support group, Thames Valley Air Ambulance and Daisy’s Dream.
Dave Robinson, chairman of the Winter Carnival Committee, said: “This year we bring you some wonderful entertainment for all the family. It’s an event which, over the years, has allowed us to donate thousands of pounds to support local charities.
“We hope you will join us for a great day out and help make the 2015 Wokingham Winter Carnival one of the best yet.”
Broad Street, Denmark Street and parts of Peach Street and Rose Street will be closed to traffic from 6am to 8pm on Sunday.
