ORGANISERS of this year’s Wokingham Winter Carnival have issued an urgent plea for lorries.
The annual event attracts thousands of people to the town centre for a day of festive festivities, building up to the annual parade.
However, due to a miscommunication with previous volunteers who have since moved on, the organisers are struggling to source four lorries which will be used as floats for groups taking part.
Sue Brooker, who is one of the carnival committee members, told The Wokingham Paper: “Some of the participants supply their own lorries but we have four groups who have not got lorries.
“The procession is a large part of the carnival and there will be a lot of disappointed people and children if we do not find some [lorries].
“Wokingham Theatre is one of the groups as well as the 1st Emmbrook Scouts with 130 children taking part. We need lorries and drivers to volunteer – the event is in aid of charity.”
Participants this year include Reading Scottish Pipe Band, Harley Davidson, Wokingham and Emmbrook FC, Wokingham Youth Theatre and 1st Emmbrook Scouts.
There will also be Morris dancers, street entertainers and a tank heading down the route.
Floats start from Shute End at 4pm, winding their way through the town
as dusk falls. The route includes Rectory Road, Wiltshire Road, Peach Street and Wellington Road, before heading up Station Road to return to Shute End.
The event sees Broad Street, Peach Street and Denmark Street closed to traffic for the day.
More than 100 local groups and charities will have stalls showcasing their work and helping them raise funds through games, cakes and book sales.
Fairground rides will delight all ages and there will be street entertainment. A main stage in Market Place will see local groups perform and Circus Scene will be providing wandering entertainment.
After the carnival procession, there will carol singing in Market Place, attended by the mayors and local councillors.
The winter carnival is always held on the last Sunday of November, which this year is the 29th. The fun starts at 11am and will carry on until 5.30pm.
If you can help by providing a lorry, email Sue or call her on 07879 634012.
