History in the making...

The last known carnival date is still shrouded in doubt. However, carnival parades in bygone years have been an important spectacle for the town's residents. Photographs from the Newark Advertiser's photographic library show a parade in 1951, with more than 9000 people visiting Sconce Hills to see the arrival of the procession. The carnival took place on Saturday, June 30, as part of Newark's Festival of Britain celebrations. The Festival of Britain started in May 1951 to promote better quality design in the rebuilding of the country's towns and cities immediately after the war.

This was the first major event of the festival celebrations. Judging of the floats began almost an hour before the parade left Northgate station at 2.30pm. Spectators lined the route to gain vantage point long before the parade began. Floats were entered by local businesses and organisations such as Ransome and Marles, James Hole and Co, Castle Motors, Sea Cadets and Sea Scouts, Collingham Young Farmers' Club and the Board Safety Council.

Unlike the modern carnival celebrations, there was an admission fee of 1s 6d, equivalent to seven pence today. The 1951 carnival committee raised £600 for nine hours of entertainment.

In the latter part of 2006, the Newark Arts Forum was born, comprising of several specialists from a wide range of backgrounds. Several meetings were held to find ideas for a large-scale event to put on in the town with the same aim as 1951; to benefit the community of Newark-on-Trent. Soon, the idea of bringing the carnival back to life was suggested.

Seven people from a wide range of backgrounds including theatres, schools, marketing agencies, the arts and the media set upon making it one of the biggest celebrations of the year. And just that it was.

More than 1000 people participated in the two-mile journey from start to finish, with more than 4000 people lining the route to watch. Sunday, July 8, 2007 was one of the biggest events in the history of this small, historic town.

The Carnival merged with Sconcefest, a fun, family event held in Sconce Hills Park, Newark, to provide a whole afternoon's entertainment following the parade. This was organised by the Friends of Sconce and Devon Park, with assistance from the Carnival committee. To see the press coverage of last year's event, please go to the Media page.

In January 2008, Newark Carnival was registered in England as a Community Interest Company (otherwise known as a CIC). A CIC is a relatively new type of company for those who wish to use their profits and assets for the public good. It is set up in normal company form, but with special features to ensure organisations like Newark Carnival are working for the sole benefit of the community.

Preparations for the third Carnival in 2009 have already started with many of the same people on last year's committee working towards another outstanding day for all the family. Sunday, July 9, 2008 will see Newark Carnival once again go down in the history books as a successful, family-orientated event where all can celebrate Newark's rich and multifarious culture but most importantly look to its future; one that looks as bright and auspicious as it did in 1951.

To find out more about the team behind the Carnival, please click here.

To watch last year's Carnival parade online, click here.