What's on

Thornbury Carnival’s volunteer committee has been meeting regularly over the last few months, planning for the 2024 event which will take place over the weekend of Friday 5th and Saturday 6th July.

Building on the success of 2023, the committee’s focus this year remains on providing an enjoyable and inclusive weekend for the local community while continuing to try and secure the long-term financial viability of the event.

Liam Williams, Chair of Thornbury Carnival Committee, and the Community Interest Company that runs the event, explained: “2023 was hugely successful on many levels, including being the first time in several years the event returned a small financial surplus. In the last few years, we’ve had to draw on the contingency fund provided by Friends of Thornbury Carnival (an arm's length organisation set up by local businesses to provide a reserve fund) to keep us going.

As we do every year, we have reviewed our 2023 expenditure with the aim of keeping our costs as tight as possible while balancing the desire to ensure a positive experience for our attendees. We’re really mindful that the ongoing cost of living crisis has been placing family budgets under significant pressure and so we’ve made a couple of decisions we think will help.

One of the changes is that, in line with most other community events, we have decided not to provide tables and chairs in front of the main stage this year. This has cost nearly £2,000 in previous years and while we know they have been welcomed, we anticipate that people would prefer we kept ticket prices down and bring their own camping chairs or picnic blankets.

Another change we’ve made is to build on the incredible support we get from Thornbury Swing Band for our ‘Swing in the Park’ on Friday night and introduce a Robbie Willilams tribute act who will feature a number of Robbie’s ‘swing’ hits.

By reducing some of our costs, making some changes to the overall event, and seeking to build on the success of last year’s Friday event, we are holding ticket prices at the same level as 2023. Critically, in response to feedback from people who attended last year, we are absorbing the pre-sales online ticket fee, making tickets this year even better value!”

Thornbury Carnival will again include two separate events – Thornbury Carnival Presents ‘Swing in the Park’ on the evening of Friday 5th July and Thornbury Carnival ‘The Main Event’ on Saturday 6th July.

The headline act for ‘Swing in the Park’ is Maximum Robbie who’ll be performing many of Robbie Williams’ swing hits. The ‘Main Event’ on the Saturday will have a fun family festival vibe with the main stage featuring a range of professional tribute acts and amateur performers.

Elly McDonald, Director of Northavon Academy of Performing Arts, is continuing in her role as the event’s Community Acts Co-ordinator and is recruiting local talent to take part.

Elly said: “There will be live entertainment on stage throughout the day starting at midday with a Variety Show and a Battle of the Bands finale. We’re searching for talented local acts so whether you’re a solo act, a duo, a band, or a whole gang of performers, if you’re singers, dancers, actors, magicians, poets, comedians, gymnasts, or DJs we want to hear from you!”

As well as the on-stage entertainment, the Saturday event will include a Show‘n’Shine featuring a range of vintage and sports vehicles, stalls, a fully licensed bar, and local food concessions. Liam also explained that the KidZone has been the focus of much discussion at committee meetings.

Liam said, “We’ve improved our children’s entertainment offer this year and are delighted we’ll be having a big top with circus skills alongside the other family favourites like face painting included within the ticket price!”

More information about the event can be found on the Thornbury Carnival website below. If you’re interested in performing, entering your vehicle in the Show ‘n’ Shine, or booking a stall, please visit the Taking Part section of the website.

www.thornburycarnival.co.uk/