Organisers aim to make next year's Caribbean Carnival '˜bigger and better'

Preston's West Indian community has turned to professional fundraisers to save the city's annual Caribbean Carnival from its current cashflow crisis.
RAINING SUPREME: This years slimmed down Caribbean Carnival battled the weatherRAINING SUPREME: This years slimmed down Caribbean Carnival battled the weather
RAINING SUPREME: This years slimmed down Caribbean Carnival battled the weather

Two weeks after scaling down the event and cancelling the colourful procession, organisers are hard at work planning for next year – with their sights already set on staging the biggest and best yet.

“This year’s carnival was the best we could arrange in the circumstances,” said treasurer Carol Nevins.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“And the fact that it poured down all day just about summed up the year we’ve had.

“But we aren’t dwelling on that. We are already looking at next year and hopefully we can get things back to how they were – and maybe even better.

“We are talking to professional fundraisers who will hopefully be able to help us access grants and other kinds of funding.”

This year’s slimmed down “pop up” carnival on the city’s Flag Market attracted hundreds of visitors, although the downpours kept many more away. The cancellation of the much-loved procession from Moor Park to the city centre and back also had an adverse effect on the numbers turning out.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The organisers are hoping that will be a one-off and things can return to normal next year, with a switch of date back to the more traditional May Bank Holiday weekend.

“Everyone wants the procession next year, it isn’t quite the same without it,” added Carol. “But we would like to make it even bigger and better.

“We are meeting a fundraising expert in the next few days and then hopefully it should be all systems go for 2017. We are all being very positive.”

Related topics: