How to get involved

As a Walking Party

The simplest way is to dress up and join in, you don’t need to have a lorry or a fancy car, let shank’s pony (or even an actual pony!) take the strain; as an alternative – if there is a group of you, why not decorate bicycles or scooters and ride along the route?

Commercial vehicles

Commercial vehicles promoting a business will be asked to provide a donation to the carnival fund; if you’re promoting a business in the parade, the best way to get yourself noticed is through excellent decoration – just showing up in your work-a-day livery with a couple of balloons might do more harm than good to your business’ reputation – we’ve heard the feedback!

In a decorated car, vintage car or another unusual vehicle

Motor cars and vans supporting a group of walkers are permitted in the parade but should be decorated in a Carnival theme. Classic or vintage cars, tractors, fire engines and tanks are also welcome to take part.

Floats and lorries

The biggest and most challenging way to enter the parade, but can produce the most striking results is to decorate an HGV and trailer or a flat back lorry.
Several local hauliers are ‘carnival friendly’ and may be able to help, however, you should remember that they are under no obligation to do so and clearly their commercial interests should come first. A gift for the driver on the day and a letter of thanks to the firm supplying the vehicle will stand you in good stead for future years.

Health & Safety

Participants in the Grand Parade will be asked to make a risk assessment, the complexity of which will depend on the nature of the involvement in the parade. For walking parties, it is a relatively simple undertaking to ensure that the people in the group can be controlled and have sufficient drinks available etc. There are additional risks to persons travelling on vehicles in a way that is different for their normal use – for example riding on a trailer or on the back of a lorry; however, these risks are easily mitigated with a few simple rules. Help and guidance are available on the Carnival website and from the Road Parade management team.

Insurance

The Carnival Association is unable to provide any insurance for vehicles taking part in the Grand Parade. The keeper of the vehicle should advise their insurer that they are taking part in a Carnival Parade and be prepared to give any details should the need arise.

Parade Awards

Although it’s the taking part that counts, each year there is a competition for floats and walking parties. The classes for the walking parties are “Best Float – Children”, “Best Float – Adults” and “Best Walking Party” with trophies for the top three in each class.

Colourful decoration and costumes are the main judging points and some reference to the theme which this year is ‘The Movies’. We hear that the judges are particularly fond of bunting and wheel trimmings, but you can let your imagination go wild as points are also awarded for creativity and originality

Volunteer

Making the Carnival Community! As with many community organisations, it’s the people that make it work and Long Eaton Carnival is no different. Planning takes place throughout the year for the Carnival Weekend which takes place in June. We have a team of around ten who meet once a month in Long Eaton and undertake most of the core planning. Then over the weekend of the Carnival, we get help from our wider team of volunteers.