This year’s Monmouth Carnival on Sunday 28th June saw a lively procession and a spectacle of noise throughout the town’s highstreet and Chippenham Playing Fields.

The procession, led by Monmouth Fire and Rescue, travelled a different route from last year, more reminiscent of carnival parades from years ago, starting from Priory Street, down Monnow Street before arriving at Chippenham Playing Fields to enjoy the events at the park.The sunny carnival procession, headlined by the percussive stylings of Batala Bristol, Ole Samba and Wales’ longest-running Samba band, Samba Galez all bringing their bright colours, unmistakable vibrant sound and energetic atmosphere to the parade.Overmonnow Primary School impressed crowds with their tribute to the well-known Toy Story franchise, which saw the iconic ’Woody’ cowboys and ’Buzz Lightyear’ spacemen take to the streets. The day was punctuated with lots of large blown bubbles by an act known as ’Bubble Man’.Monmouth Gymnastics took their turn to steal the show cartwheeling down Monnow Street before performing a well-received display on the main stage finishing with their acrobatic formation of a human pyramid.Following the display, pupils from schools in Monmouth read poetry, written by them commemorating the First World War.Prizes were awarded on stage at the Chippenham Fields, first place winners were awarded £50 prize money with second place entrants being awarded £20.Carnival prizes themselves were awarded by the newly-elected Monmouth mayor, Councillor Richard Roden."The carnival was a great success with crowds lining the streets and on Chippenham Mead enjoying the spectacle," he said, also paying a heartfelt tribute to the volunteers who made it happen, saying they were "a great community spirited group."A creatively repurposed pram titled Pirate Ship won the best decorated vehicle category.The prize for the individual entry was awarded to Festival Goer with second place going to the Friendly Bee.Pirate and Parrot claimed first place in the preschool aged entries with the Hungry Caterpillar earning second prize.Winner of the prestigious John Blake Shield for the best vintage vehicle went to John Kidley’s maroon coloured, coal fueled, antique steam tractor. The award was presented by the category sponser John Blake himself.Little Red Riding Hood, Harry Potter and more characters from the Toy Story universe were also prominent additions to the carnival procession. The day concluded with Ross-on-Wye Town Band providing carnival attendees with their familiar style of music.Several of the area’s community groups helped bring the event together including, Monmouth Rotary, Monmouth Litter Pickers, Monmouth Lions International, St John’s Ambulance and helpers from Ross-on-Wye Town Carnival.