CARNIVAL-goers are putting the finishing touches to floats and costumes for this year’s Wallingford Carnival.

Thousands are expected to line the bunting-clad streets to cheer on the colourful procession as it rolls into town tomorrow.

Leading the floats to Kinecroft Recreation Ground will be mayor Dee Cripps, who will travel in a Rolls Royce, followed by carnival princess Hollie Smith, nine, of Wallingford, in a pony and trap.

Rosemary Sutton, chairman of the organising committee, said: “It will be action-packed. It brings the town to a standstill and we close all the roads. The event always attracts between two and five thousand people. There is something for everyone. It’s a great family day out.

“The floats are very popular with schools competing against each other, so there’s always a little bit of competition. I don’t know what kind of floats there will be, as the groups are always quite secretive about that.”

Wallingford Hockey Club, one of the procession organisers, has been chosen to benefit from money raised by bucket collections.

The theme for the 49th annual event is “fashion through the ages” and judges, including Ms Cripps, will pick the winning float.

At Kinecroft, merry-makers can expect mountain bike and motorbike displays, a marching band, the Goring Growlers dog display and even a chainsaw sculptor.

Music by Wallingford School Fun Band, Queen Street Jazz and Response Collective will entertain revellers in Market Place, as will the Thames Valley Drama School.

The Stags, a rock band made up of pupils from Wallingford School, the Cadillacs and Slade tribute band Slyde will close the event in Kinecroft at 10pm.

Other attractions around the town include charity stalls, refreshments, a raffle and displays by Wallingford and District Art Club and Wallingford Photographic Club in the town hall.

Mrs Sutton said: “I think our committee are full of fighters. All the rules and regulations and health and safety make things like this die, but people in Wallingford have clubbed together to support each other. There is a great community spirit here. There just seems to be a magnificent team of people in Wallingford and the support of the town council is absolutely brilliant. It’s something we would like to see continue for another 50 years.”

The free event runs from 11am to 10pm with the procession from Wallingford Sports Park in Hithercroft Road starting at 2pm, travelling down St John’s Road, St Mary’s Street, Market Place, High Street and into Kinecroft.

eallen@oxfordmail.co.uk