Helping the show to go on

Hornsea Carnival is a lynchpin local event that has grown in size and popularity over recent years and plays a vital role in knitting this particular East Coast community together.

Yet many people don’t realise it relies solely on fundraising, and the absolute dedication of its team of organisers, who go out of their way to make it happen year-after-year.

One such is Ruth Skinner, who has been on the organising committee since 1996. She believes this year promises to be a record year for the carnival. After attracting 20,000 visitors in 2016, the Live Music event will run for an extra night this year, and Ruth hopes that this will help to increase the attendance.

We are one of the many businesses that try to support the carnival, in our case by offering our marquees at minimal cost.

Ruth is appealing for eleventh-hour sponsorship from other local businesses, to get them over the line with the £16,000 cost of running the free community event.

“We’re not looking for thousands, by any means,” she said.

“Actually, just £50 to sponsor a banner advertising their business can make all the difference to us.”

And Ruth and her Carnival Committee colleagues also have a specific request for a car to place in the middle of the arena to be jumped by Flyin' Ryan, a motorcycle display team who will be appearing for the first time this year. This. she says represents a fantastic branding opportunity for the right business.

There will also be live music tents on both the Friday and Saturday nights, for the first time ever.

Lots to look forward to

Other entertainments include:

• The highlight Carnival Parade
• Dog displays by the H and M Dog Display Team
• Falconry displays and bird of prey handling by Eagle Eye Falconry
• The Clwyd Axemen performing wood cutters
• A circus workshop by Circus Whizz
• Craft and local produce marquees
• Children’s rides
• Food and refreshment stalls
• A firework display on the Friday night
• Cookery demonstrations by well-known local chef Steph Moon, of All Things Food, including a cook-off with Rob Porter, from the Michelin-starred Green Room in Scarborough.

Ruth added: “Last year was a record year but we’re hoping it will be even busier this year, given the additional entertainments we have and the number of holidaymakers flocking to the area – particularly if the weather stays as fine as it has been.

“We’re hoping the 2 nights of music and refreshments will help us to draw in an additional kind of audience this year.

“Last year was good, with around 20,000 people coming along, but we’re hoping we can increase that by at least 20 per cent this year, and hopefully many more.”

She added: “We’re so grateful for the support of so many local businesses, from Village Farm Marquees who have provided our marquees since 2014 at minimal cost, to Hornsea Town Council who give the permission to use Hall Garth Park, and Hornsea School who allow us to use their premises for the preparation and start of the parade

“Without their support, we couldn’t run this wonderful, free community event year-on-year, which acts as such a catalyst for bringing people together and celebrating all that’s fantastic about our town and surrounding region.”

Village Farm Co-director Chrysta said: "The Hornsea Carnival is a fantastic, free community event and Ruth and her team do an amazing job of fundraising and pulling it together.

"We try to support them by providing our marquees for stalls including food and crafts, at minimal costs. We hope lots of other businesses will come forward and get involved, and benefit from the fantastic promotional opportunities the carnival has to offer."

Dubbed ‘A celebration of culture’, this year’s event will run in Hornsea’s Hallgarth Park from Friday 21 July to Sunday 23. Its focal point will be the Carnival Parade, which will run through the town’s main street from 12.30 on the Saturday.

Any businesses wishing to find out more about the sponsorship packages available can contact Ruth on 01964 534580.