THE organisers of the 2017 Launceston Carnival were nothing short of delighted with the whole event last Saturday evening.

The crowds came out and the weather was fine for the 8th year running and saw the carnival parade receive more entries totalling 65, as well as new bands — seven in total, and for the first time all carnival categories were entered.

The crowds along the whole route were large with the largest amount of spectators standing in and around the town centre.

Dave Gordon, carnival chairman, told the Post: “Once again I am pleased to say we had a wonderful event, from the increase in entries right down to the support our event has received and continues to receive from our community. We are so grateful to everyone who has supported carnival this year, which includes so many people, businesses and individuals. Our main sponsors in Charlie Bears have been both very supportive and extremely generous, and we are extremely grateful for their support.

“Charlie Bears very generously donated bears to the three members of the new carnival royalty when they were crowned in the town square at 12pm, as well as generously handing out bears to the delight of many children along the entire route.

“It takes a lot of things to all come together to make an event like ours really successful, and I am so pleased and proud that Launceston Carnival has now become a real whole community event.”

Other sponsors and supporters of Launceston Carnival 2017 were Costa Coffee who generously sponsored the carnival royalty, Launceston Town Council, Cornwall Community Foundation, and Launceston Rotary Club, along with all of the 40-plus judges and volunteers who made the carnival possible.

The parade included seven marching bands, with the illuminated parade being led by Launceston Town Band, and included Bournemouth Carnival Band, St Austell Town Band, Kernow Pipe Band, Launceston College Samba Band, North Devon Youth Pipe Band and St Stephens Samba Band.

There was all day entertainment in the town centre, which lasted right up to when the illuminated parade entered the town centre.

Entertainment included children’s rides, various stalls, the monthly market, Launceston Popchoir, the Countrymen and Jumping Out Jazz.

The carnival committee expressed its thanks to everyone who either donated, helped, or lined the streets to make Launceston Carnival a huge success, along with the Launceston Voluntary First-Aid Service (LVFS) for its excellent medical cover.

See this week’s Post for the carnival results.