[Lavenham Carnival]

Lavenham Carnival 2008 and yes 2009!!!
See below for a report on the 2007 Carnival

The committee has already met to start planning the Carnival for 2008 and 2009!

The theme for 2008 is Food and Farming. We aim to attract local food producers, farmers, rare breed animals and such like. If you have any ideas, contacts or would like to help please contact any member of the committee. We will still have a fun fair, stalls, motor show and ring events.

The remainder of the weekend will follow this year's format - fun for the children on Saturday morning and in the evening music in the marquee and beer festival. Sunday would not be Sunday, without our Songs of Praise and the Salvation Army Band.

For 2009 we will be going back in time to 1480 or thereabouts. A re-creation group has been booked. Following this year's success; the Market Place will revert to a medieval street scene with an encampment on the recreation ground. Again, if you have any ideas or thoughts please contact any committee member.

If you have any ideas or would like to help in anyway please contact a member of the Carnival Committee:

Andy Cracknell01787 247 154Ashley Fitzwater248 065Gaye Hodges247 434
Jill Jones247 131Bryan Panton247 893Carroll Reeve247 674
Annabell & Doug Hawks248 002Jane Hodges247 659 - the Rare Breeds Motor Show

[Suffolk Free Press]

Lavenham - Wool town has a date with its colourful past


By Catherine McMillan

The clock was turned back in Lavenham with mounted knights, jesters, wenches and serfs once more making their way through the streets.

Crowds flocked to the village for the special carnival weekend, marking 750 years since it was granted its market town charter by Henry III.

Organisers believe a record number attended, with around 5,000 people joining the celebrations on Monday.

[Carnival procession]

[Carnival procession]The transformed market place was packed with visitors who came to experience Lavenham as it would have been in 1257.

Among attractions were village stocks, musicians, and the chance to sample typical medieval food.

Led by members of the Albini Household Re-enactment Group a colourful procession made its way through the village.

Carnival committee member Jill Jones said: "It was brilliant. We had fantastic weather and there were lots of people in the procession, far more than normal.

"There was a group from the WI, another from the school and lots of individuals."

Winner of the best costumes was the Women's Institute group.

There was also plenty of entertainment on offer on the recreation grounds, including re-enactments, archery, and falconry displays by the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary.

The tea tent did brisk trade all day, selling out of refreshments and taking £2,000.

The Rare Breeds Motor Show was as popular as ever, with about 450 cars taking part, from 100-year-old steam cars to modern day supercars.

The carnival was the culmination of celebrations which had been going on over the bank holiday weekend.

Other events had included children's workshops, live music, a beer festival and a Songs of Praise, which were all well supported.

Profits are still being added up, but organisers believe around £10,000 was raised over the weekend for the village hall and the recreation ground.

Story originally featured in Suffolk Free Press, August 30, 2007. For all the latest news visit www.suffolkfreepress.co.uk

Suffolk Free Press Carnival video: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=inhR0MeU0es
Suffolk Free Press Carnival slideshow: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KVwqoaFxVa0

[Carnival procession]



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The Lavenham Carnival web page is ©2007 Lavenham Community Council. All graphics & photos are ©Copyright their respective owners. Please note that Lavenham Community Council reserves the right to change any of the information shown on the Carnival web page without notice.