A FANTASTIC free family fun day will once again enchant visitors to Wokingham – the annual Winter Carnival is back on Sunday.
Up to 20,000 people are expected to pour into the town centre for a whole day of festive fun, culminating in the annual parade and carol singing around the borough’s Christmas tree.
This year, the theme to the show is Once Upon A Time and stall holders are being invited to give their floats and stands a fairy tale feel.
A funfair will be set up in Broad Street, including a big wheel and attractions suitable for all ages.
Find out what’s happening at this Winter Carnival
Much of Peach Street and Denmark Street will be given over to more than 100 different food, craft and charity stalls, with some offering crafts and activities, others offering games or unique ideas for Christmas presents.
And there will be live entertainment throughout the day. Street entertainment will include Circus Scene, a Punch and Judy show, comedy jugglers, clowns and morris dancing displays.
The Market Place stage will be home to a host of performances from local groups including Vivaldi Strings, Sing For Fun and Rock School, while the popular Little Dallas Donkeys will be in Peach Street ready to welcome visitors wanting a reminder of part of the Christmas story.
Winter carnival starting
Cllr David Davies, from Wokingham Town Council, said: “The carnival starts at 11am on Sunday with the highlight of the day, the parade, coming through town at 4pm culminating in carols being led by the Town Mayor Gwynneth Hewetson.
“As always there will be a great variety of stalls from local charities, food and crafts throughout and it is certain to yet again be a great event in the town.”
Peter Lucey is organising the evening parade and promised that it would be a fitting finale for the day.
He told The Wokingham Paper: “There will be several floats, tractors vintage vehicles, morris dancers and, of course, Santa.”
The parade will be headed, as usual, by Saint Sebastian Brass band.
The Winter Carnival is organised and run by volunteers, supported by Wokingham Town Council and many local businesses.
The event is now in its 23rd year and will this year raise funds for Soulscape, Homestart and Alexander Devine.
For more details, visit www.wintercarnival.co.uk
