A CALVALCADE of performers, acrobats and musicians are packing up their instruments, tightropes and mechanical contraptions in preparation for Bury's four-day Lost Carnival spectacular.

The event will take place at Burrs Country Park between May 22 and 25, and is described as a large scale outdoor immersive theatre event for families.

Up to 15,000 people are expected to attend, and told to expect spellbinding theatre, circus, music and visual trickery.

A highlight of the event will be the world premiere of the Marie Celestial, a giant, walking pan-galactic circus beast. Focused around a massive, beating iron heart, it mutates with mechanical transformations, pyrotechnic effects, dynamically changing light and sound. It will be accompanied by a cast performing aerial circus, acrobatics, dance, theatre and percussion, both aboard the moving structure and on the ground.

The Baghdaddies will be performing wild Balkan music, with Middle Eastern rhythms and even some Geordie touches.

And Travelling Light Circus’ pendulum wave machine will combine technical wizardry with the genius of a Victorian scientist to create, what is described as, "an unforgettable feast for 21st century eyes".

There will also be a Lost in Translation Circus and a host of other acts.

The four-day event is being staged by Wild Rumpus, producers of the award-winning Just So Festival, and So It Is, a new producing company established by Bury Met director David Agnew..

Rowan Hoban, Wild Rumpus director, said: "We’ve heard whispers for many years of a Lost Carnival and have often hoped that it might reappear in our lifetime. News that it will be in Bury in May is just wonderful."

The carnival will be open from 4pm to 9pm each day, with the audience entering on timed tickets. Tickets cost £10 per person (children under the age of three go free).

Carnivalgoers are advised to dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes.

More information and tickets are available by visiting www.thelostcarnival.org.uk