More than 1000 people will participate in the annual Carnival parade through the townʼs streets, with floats and costumes dressed along the theme ʻBest of Britishʼ. In a change to its previous route, the Carnival will leave Newarkʼs Market Place at 2pm on Sunday, June 3, making its way along Lombard Street, Cartergate, Queenʼs Road and Bar Gate before finishing at Riverside Park shortly before 3.00pm.

From 2.30pm, a Jubilee Picnic has been organised by Newark Town Council to take place in Riverside Park, with live bands, family shows and displays and an exciting firework finale in the evening. Both events are free to watch and organisers are billing it as the best family day out over the bank holiday weekend. Those visiting can bring a picnic with them and enjoy the entertainment.

Mr Stuart Graham, the Carnivalʼs marketing director, said: “This year weʼve made some exciting additions including working with Newark Town Council to provide a whole afternoonʼs entertainment for the whole family. Thereʼs no better way to celebrate living in Britain and our monarch than an fun event such as this.”

More than 20 groups, including charities and businesses, have registered for the mile-long parade, including Beaumond House Hospice, Southwell Racecourse, Girlguiding UK, Hope House School, Newark Polish School and many more.

Newark Patriotic Fund, the organisation set up to assist wounded military service personnel and their families in the area, will dress a float celebrating Britain’s long military history.

Other themes already confirmed for individual floats include Lawrence of Arabia, Red, White and Blue, the Great British Takeaway and Euro 2012.

The events have been sponsored by Newark & Sherwood District Council, Newark Advertiser, Newark Town Partnership, Ringrose Law, Newark Business Club, Tallents Solicitors, SMC Vehicle Sales, Newark Town Council, Life&Style Magazine, Nottinghamshire County Council and Duncan & Toplis Chartered Accountants.

The carnival committee will be holding their annual meeting for all those taking part in this years event, with the briefing containing all the vital information that those taking part will need to know for the big day on Sunday, 3rd June.

Along with timings, and route information, the groups will be shown, for the first time, the parade order, in which they will parade through the streets of Newark.

The meeting will take palace at the Aura Centre, Manners Road, Newark, NG24 1BS from 6pm.

Anyone wishing to know more information, or for those who can not make the meeting, please e-mail info@newarkcarnival.com or call 0844 357 5090.

There is still plenty of time to take part in this years event. You can fill in an online form here. The closing date for entries on Monday, 14th May.

Groups and organisations are being encouraged to join the 1,000-strong procession that will wind its way through Newark’s streets. For the first time the parade will begin at the Market Place before moving along Stodman Street, Lombard Street, Cartergate, Appletongate, Queen’s Road, Bargate and over Beastmarket Hill to Riverside Park.

A community event organised with Newark Town Council will be held at the park once the carnival has ended.

Carnival marketing director Mr Stuart Graham said the event was brought forward in an effort to get more schools involved, as well as to fit in with the jubilee.

“It is free promotion for businesses and schools and it is something creative for the children to work on,” he said.

It is hoped about 35 groups will take part. About eight have already signed up. Event sponsors are also being sought.

Last year 6,000 people lined the carnival route, making the event one of the biggest in the town.

Mr Graham said: “People are going to be in a celebratory mood anyway, so if they are around in town there will be something extra special to be involved in.”

He said the jubilee was all about history and so the historic Market Place was an ideal location to begin.

In previous years the carnival started at Riverside Park and ended at Sconce and Devon Park, joining the annual Sconcefest event.

Mr Graham said ending the carnival with an event in the centre of the town would allow more people to come.

The chairman of the carnival committee, Mrs Elaine Ellison, hoped the event would be a great start to the long weekend of jubilee celebrations.

She said: “It is a great privilege to be able to have a royal theme for the carnival, and now that the organisation of it is in full swing we hope Newark groups will come forward and support us as they have done so in the past.”

Newark Carnival has been held annually since 2007, when the event was resurrected after a break of more than 50 years.