Officially opened by carnival queen Georgia Straw, the parade started off form the Market Place at 2pm, lead, as have been tradition, by the 1st Balderton Scout Band, who started the procession at a steady pace.

The parade, which walked a two mile route around the town centre, saw over 1000 people take part, with a record breaking 35 groups registering for the parade – the towns biggest community event of the year.

“It was a wonderful day” Carnival committee chair Elaine Ellison commented. “The weather held out, and we couldn’t of had a better parade. The people of Newark came out to watch the biggest parade we have ever had.”

Mrs Ellison continued by say “We have had such amazing feed back from the groups taking part, and the community of the town, with everyone saying that the day was a fantastic spectacle.”

This year’s parade also saw new groups taking part including the Newark Twinning association, who walked with the Emmendingen Gugge Music Band. Other new groups included the Rattlejag Morris, Newark Museum Service, and The Sealed Knot, who held a skirmish ahead of the parade in the Market Place.

Sam Millard, leader of the Rattlejag Morris Group commented that the day “It all came together extremely well”, with Newark Patriotic Fund organiser Sarah Sturgeon adding “Amazing day yesterday. Thanks and congratulations go to the whole team.”

Newark Carnival Committee Logistics Coordinator Steve Beaching summed the day up by saying “The day went off without any major issues. I want to thank everyone who took part for making the day easy to organise.”

Carnival Community Coordinator Howard Newport said “I’d just like to say a huge thank you to every group that registered. The groups work really hard on the floats, and its great to see the town pull together for the town’s biggest event. Than you again, and we hope to see you next year.”

As part of the day, many of the towns local shops opened on Carnival Sunday to showcase the best of independent retail in the town, an aspect of the day organised by the Newark Retail Committee.

“Thank you to everyone who took part, and who lined the streets of the town. The atmosphere was amazing. Thank you Newark” Mrs Ellison said, summing up the “All About Newark” Newark Carnival 2013.

Click here to see a selection of photo’s from the day, and follow the latest news on Facebook.

As Carnival tradition states, the queen will officially start the parade, along with Councillor Dennis Jones, chairman of Newark and Sherwood District Council, and will then parade, along with the thirty-five other groups who are taking part in the 2013 Carnival.

Twelve year-old Georgia, who is currently in year seven at Newark Academy was selected to be this years Queen after students at the school where asked to volunteer themselves to be crowned queen, with Georgia being selected by her teachers.

“I’m excited about being the carnival queen and nervous at the same time” Georgia said about her title. “I’m looking forward to being crowned and cutting the ribbon on the day” Georgia added.

After moving to Newark Academy from Hawtonville Junior School, Georgia enjoys her German lessons at school. Outside of school, she is a big music fan, listening to it with friends, who she regularly meets.

Danusia Sawoscianik-Murray, Carnival’s creativity co-ordinator, who headed up the Carnival Committees selection said; “It’s wonderful to crown Georgia our Carnival Queen for 2013. It is such a big honour and responsibility to start of the towns biggest community event, but I’m sure Georgia will be able to cope with pressure.”

“Every year we look to crown a Queen to give the day a royal atmosphere, and we always look to a different school each year, so if your school would like to hold the crown for a year, we would love to hear from you” Mrs Sawoscianik-Murray added.

“We’re delighted to welcome Georgia as our Carnival Queen” Newark Carnival Chair Elaine Ellison said. “We’re also so please to be working with the Newark Academy this year who have made this year’s selection process so easy. We really hope that Georgia enjoys her day!”

Carnival Community Coordinator Howard Newport added; “Having the community involved in the carnival is at the heart of every years parade, and crowning our Queen is one of the most exciting parts of every carnival. Georgia will have a fantastic day, and I’m sure she will be very regal in her royal role.”

This years Newark Carnival takes place on Sunday, 16th June, and starts from Newark Market place where Georgia will be cutting the ribbon to start the parade at 2pm.