Residents are being encouraged to decorate their gardens and windows this June to keep the spirit of the Kenilworth Carnival parade alive.

Whilst the carnival is set to go ahead on June 26-27, the procession will not happen for the second year in a row due to the complications of social distancing.

However, in its place the carnival organisers are encouraging residents, businesses and community groups to decorate the front of their homes and premises with colour and creativity to create a 'Carnival Trail' for the town

Organisers will also publish a list of those taking part closer to the weekend for other residents to follow. Decorations will need to be in place from the morning of Saturday, June 26.

A Carnival Cup will then be given to the winners in each of the following categories:

- Individual houses/flats

- Community spaces (e.g. churches/day centres etc)

Organiser of the Carnival Trail Joanne Evans said: "People in Kenilworth did a fantastic job lighting up their houses for Christmas, so we'd love to see as many people as possible getting creative to decorate their homes this summer.

"You're free to choose your own theme, but if you're stuck for inspiration, maybe have a think about the kind of thing you might see on a float? Last year's entries ranged from a teddy bears' picnic to a Hawaiian beach party."

To get involved you can contact the Facebook page or send an email to [email protected] with your name, theme and contact details.

Carnival Weekend

The Carnival Trail will run alongside two days of stalls, activities, and entertainment in Abbey Fields.

The carnival weekend will run from 1pm – 7pm on the Saturday, and then 1pm – 5pm on the Sunday.

The line up for Saturday's entertainment already includes live music, dancing and even a karate demonstration. However, any performers wishing to take part can still do so by contacting [email protected] for full details.

Whilst they cannot participate in a procession, the Carnival Queen and VIP team who were chosen before the cancelled 2020 event will still be involved as judges, as well as the Grand Prize draw on the Sunday.

Bob Wilson's Funfair will also be returning to town this year, to coincide with the Carnival Weekend. They'll be in Abbey Fields from Thursday 25 to Sunday 27 June.

For more information on the Kenilworth Carnival please follow this link to the website, and click here for the Facebook page.

For more upcoming Kenilworth events, follow this link to our What's On page.