A COLOURFUL annual parade, which accompanies Oxfordshire's biggest public event, is set to double in size.

Organisers of Oxford's Cowley Road Carnival, which will this year be held on Sunday, July 6, are hoping to get 2,000 people in the procession.

Last year's event saw just under 1,000 participants take to the streets.

advertisement Event manger Ian Nolan hoped more people would volunteer to take part. He said: "It would be fantastic if we could have a couple of thousand people in the procession, dancing down the street.

"That would look amazing."

"If you consider we get 25,000 people lining the streets on the day, it should not be hard to get 2,000 people in the procession."

More details are being revealed about plans for the day - which will see five stages and seven DJ soundsystems set up. Each will play a different type of music, with sounds to cater for many tastes.

Carnival organisers are also calling on musicians to take part.

Mr Nolan said: "The carnival has this great tradition of having a really diverse selection of music.

"Last year one of the most popular stages was the OX4 stage, which was all about local music, and that stage is staying."

There will also be a world music stage, an acoustic performance area, and a Speaker's Corner - an open mic area in Manzil Way.

In addition, there will also be a community stage for young bands and dance groups in Temple Street.

Mr Nolan said: "Each year we try to do something different because we really want to keep the event fresh.

"We have taken what people have said in the past and used that to make some changes."

Musicians and performers wanting to be involved should contact music@inevents.org Anyone wanting to be in the procession should contact info@fusion-arts.org The deadline for applications for musicians and performers is Friday, May 9.

Mr Nolan said: "I am really excited. I do a whole range of events throughout the year and Cowley Road Carnival really is my favourite "It really is about the people of East Oxford celebrating and enjoying what they have every day of the year."

The carnival theme will be masquerade, and organisers have called on revellers to turn up wearing a mask.

Mask-making workshops are planned and there will also be an opportunity to create masks on the day.

New for this year will be a selection of giant puppets, which will join the parade.

The puppets are being created in a series of workshops led by Fusion Arts.