Launceston Carnival saw a huge turnout for its return for 2019 on Saturday night, with people of all ages taking part in the procession and various events in town.

With the disappointment of having to cancel last year’s carnival, the carnival committee were delighted with how this year’s parade came together.

The weather held and the parade was fantastic with a wide variety of decorated floats, walking entries and marching bands.

Hundreds if not thousands of people lined the streets to view this year’s illuminated parade and the feedback since the event has been fantastic.

At 12pm, the crowning of the carnival royalty, queen Ruby Redding and her attendants Abigail Moore and Lacey Marshall, took place in the town square, with the honours carried out by Enis Broad from Homeleigh Garden Centre, the carnival’s royalty sponsor for 2019, accompanied by Lisa Gordon and Claire Tomkies.

People visiting the town in the day were also treated to a variety of entertainment and food stalls in the town square, in the lead up to the main event.

Despite a drizzle in the air as the evening approached, people still grabbed their coats and headed to the streets to enjoy the marvellous procession that made its way from Newport Industrial Estate, towards Prouts Corner and then through the square.

The parade was led by Launceston Town Band, followed by the carnival royalty.

The procession included appearances from carnival royalties from towns across Cornwall, including Camelford, Sticker, Brea, St Dennis and Saltash; as well as fantastic entries by the Launceston Rugby Club Mini-Juniors, McQueens Dance and Theatre CIC, Young Farmers’ Clubs and even two giant pasties — to name just a few.

Notable winning entries included ‘Mr and Mrs Pasty’ by Rowes in the adult walking group; the Rugby World Cup by Launceston Mini-Juniors for children’s walking group; Barry the Clown, by George Drew, in the single walker class; and English Country Garden by Smart Start Preschool in the children’s float.

Businesses in town were also able to partake in some competitions during the day, with a window dressing competition following the theme of musicals.

David Viggers won first prize in the Things to Use category with ‘White Christmas’, while Wroes won first prize in the Things to Wear category with ‘Singing in the Rain’. Highly commended went to David Parish with ‘Blues Brothers’ and commended went to Undercover with ‘Frozen’. But best overall went to Flower Scene with ‘Grease’.

Following the procession there was a grand finale firework display, with hundreds of spectators in the castle green, bringing an end to a fantastic evening for all.

Dave Gordon, carnival chairman, said: “The parade was nothing short of brilliant, everything came together to produce one of the best carnival parades to date. The people of Launceston do us proud every year and we even got lucky with the weather conditions.

“It has to be remembered that the carnival simply would not happen without our main sponsors in ‘Charlie Bears’ and royalty sponsors in ‘Homeleigh Garden Centre’, along with all our other supporters such as Launceston Town Council, Launceston Rotary, Nick Harrison of Hawkins Motors, Co-op Funeral Care, Flowers by Donna, The Colour Lounge, Launceston First Aid Volunteers, WT Scaffolding and the ladies of the Royal British Legion for providing refreshments to the visiting bands, along with everyone that supported our carnival programme this year.”

See this week’s Post for the carnival results!