Cancelled carnival will be back in 2027 - organisers

A carnival with more than 120 years of history will return, organisers say, after being cancelled this year due to a lack of funding.

Trowbridge Carnival in Wiltshire attracts between 10,000 and 12,000 people every year and costs about £12,000 to £13,000 to put on, president Andy Barlow said.

This year's event, which was due to take place in October, was cancelled as organisers said it became "impossible" to raise enough money to stage the procession safely.

Barlow has now said the carnival will return "without any shadow of a doubt" - but fundraising would need to come from local businesses and the "good folk of Trowbridge".

Speaking about the cancelled event, Barlow said the grant which organisers received from Trowbridge Town Council was "significantly less [than usual], just under £2,000", due to rising costs and pressure on the local authority.

"Unfortunately we just didn't have enough time to close [the fundraising gap]," he added.

Barlow said many people in the town had memories of the carnival from their childhood.

"I think a lot of people remember when they were younger going to carnival. I think in these sort of times it's a feel-good factor," he added.

Organisers believe the key to success for the 2027 event will be support from extra businesses which have not previously been involved in sponsorship.

Trowbridge town councillor Mel Jacob said the carnival was a "fantastic thing" that was "hugely loved" by residents.

"It's been part of our community for so long so obviously it is great to have it back on," she said.

"Those kind of community-led events are vital to our town and hugely loved by all of our residents, so I'm really pleased to hear the news," Jacob added.

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