GALLERY: Giant insects wow crowds at Staveley Carnival (From The Westmorland Gazette)

GALLERY: Giant insects wow crowds at Staveley Carnival

11:25am Monday 16th July 2012 in Shows and Festivals news

A TECHNICOLOUR procession of dancers dressed as giant insects did the samba through the streets of Staveley as the biennial Carnival wowed the village.

Organisers have celebrated the ‘huge spirit’ of the 3,000-strong crowd which cheered on the Sunday parade.

Around 800 local musicians, dancers and residents took part in South Cumbria’s own Notting Hill extravaganza, which has gone from strength to strength since it was relaunced in 2000.

The flamboyant parade, and a whole weekend of up-tempo entertainment, was put together by Ro Thomas, of Kendal, Shelley Barlow, of Staveley, and more than 110 volunteers who joined Staveley Carnival Co-operative.

Huge ant, caterpillar, bee and wasp costumes were designed in schools and homes for two months before the event as well as at packed out creative workshops.

Families cheered the parade through Staveley and onto the main fields, where a BBQ, coconut shy and other entertainments were laid on.

Residents with a crafty streak also showed their innovative qualities at wearable art shows, on Friday and Saturday evening, with costumes made from recycled materials.

Four ladies, who walzed down the catwalk at Staveley’s Community Hall, won the adult competition with their handmade costume design which transformed the group from chefs, to large-scale cakes and finally to a huge three-tired wedding gateaux. The winner of the solo competition had created a contrasting dress from natural rushes, nettles and boiled and steamed oak woven together with brambles.

Ms Thomas said the thought and time that had been put into the weekend had made it ‘spectacular’.

“It was absolutely amazing,” she said. “The costumes were stunning and the effort everyone had put in was fantastic.

“I loved the energy of the bands. It was a totally pulling together of the community and it shows what a special place this is.

“The procession took place in a window between the showers. It has never rained on the carnival since it relaunched - it must be the magic of the day.”

Funds for the biennial event were raised with two ticketed events over the weekend, along with grants from Cumbria County Council, Staveley with Ings Parish Council and the Hadfield Trust.