York | Archive | 2007 | July | 6

Time for a carnival...

From the archive, first published Friday 6th Jul 2007.

A TRADITIONAL summer carnival hopes to become York's answer to Glastonbury.

This year's Copmanthorpe Carnival being held tomorrow is different to all its predecessors.

The event which began life 39 years ago has undergone a transformation and hopes to become something of a showcase for up and coming local bands.

The carnival is being held from noon to 6pm at Copmanthorpe Recreation Centre and on the adjoining field.

At the heart of the event will be an outdoor stage hosting nine local acts, including The Summits who have just returned from Glastonbury and Helmsley-based band One Night Only who signed a recording contract earlier this year.

The music line up has been put together by Laura Sledmore who works for Minster FM which will be supporting the carnival this year.

Laura said: "We decided this year to give the carnival a new twist, something a bit more modern than the old-fashioned carnival.

"We decided to round up the best bands in York including One Night Only who are headlining.

"It's a chance for them to do a festival in York for charity and we are hoping that this event will become a permanent fixture in years to come."

Mark Hayton, guitarist with One Night Only, said: "It's great to have something like this in York, it's like a fun day really with live bands and all the best bands in York are on the bill."

Lee Richardson, of The Summits, said: "We have just come back from Glastonbury and still have the mud on our T-shirts to prove it. We'd like to think we're bringing a bit of Glastonbury to Copmanthorpe."

City of York Council's mobile skatepark will also be on site along with the Queen Elizabeth Barracks mobile assault course.

For the first time the carnival will link up with Global Youth UK with music workshops and instruments for youngsters to play on.

Both the Rawhide rodeo bull and the Action Zone laser tag battlefield action are booked to make a welcome return as is John Peel's fairground and inflatables.

This year's tea tent will be run by the Copmanthorpe Fair Trade Group with home made cakes and Fair Trade teas and coffees.

A record 37 stalls have booked space at the carnival including both village organisations and local traders, including games for children and produce and craft stalls.

The traditional carnival football tournament for under eights will also return this year after a sabbatical for last year's World Cup.

A new venture this year is an art exhibition which opened on Tuesday in the Methodist church and is being transferred to the village scout hall for the carnival itself.

Other traditional carnival events are the wine tasting, the quiz and the junior and adult discos.

Throughout the day the community centre will be open to provide refreshments and big screen TV action.

Entry to the carnival costs £3 on the gate on the day.

* The weekend's weather forecast is for sunshine and Haxby residents will be out in force for their very own carnival.

The Haxby Carnival procession through the main street will be leaving from the village green at 12.45pm to arrive at the Ethel Ward Playing Field for the official opening at 1pm.

The Carnival Procession is made up of St Chad's Band, Guides, Cubs and Brownies along with the Carnival Queen Helen Waller and her two attendants Bethan Findlay and Lara Minskip.

As in past years, there will be a fun fair on the field along with displays in the arena by the Barbara Taylor School Of Dancing and the Flying Ducks Youth Theatre.