EVERYONE is invited to join in the fun this bank holiday weekend at the Audlem Carnival and Music and Arts Festival.
One of the oldest carnivals in the district - introduced in 1812 to celebrate the gathering of the harvest - it has enjoyed a massive revival since being switched to the Whitsun Bank Holiday, attracting thousands of visitors.
There will be live music, lots of special events for children, and art and craft exhibitions throughout the weekend, culminating in a parade and carnival on the village playing field on Monday.
Many top bands will be playing in the public hall and in the village pubs throughout the weekend.
The Steve Gibbons Band will be appearing at the public hall on Friday, supported by Pete Price, and on Saturday the public hall show will feature Dr Feel Good and Big Blue House.
The Bridge Inn, The Shroppie Fly and the Lord Combermere pubs will host music shows from Friday onwards.
Paintings, sculptures, stained glass, pottery, textiles and ceramics will be on view in the Scout hall, St James' Church and the Methodist chapel. And the Day Star Theatre will stage one of its popular canal-side shows at The Shroppie Fly on Sunday.
Special events for youngsters will include a Street Dance workshop, Playing with Clay, the Fun of Percussion, a Circus Skills Workshop, and Children's Theatre.
The parade on Monday starts at 1pm at the village car park, wending its way through the village to the playing field where there will be a funfair, dancing troupes, stalls, bands, displays, float competitions, fancy dress and crowning of the Carnival Queen.
The reigning queen, Antonia Baxter, will be handing over her crown to her successor, Samantha Jones, a pupil of Buerton County Primary School.
Gwen Moss, of the Audlem Carnival Committee, which organises the event in conjunction with the Audlem Special Events Team, said: 'It looks like being a great event, with lots of music and colour.'
