Prestwich Carnival ‘back with a bang’

Prestwich Carnival is a summer institution in the borough, having been a mainstay on the last weekend of June for 100 years.

The carnival took place over the weekend at St Mary's Park in Prestwich.

Saturday was a "fun day" where people enjoyed funfair rides and a football tournament, and Sunday had the carnival and grand parade, with stalls, donkey rides, a beer tent and more.

The grand parade procession boasted samba bands, bagpipe players, dancers, old military vehicles and many other weird and wonderful additions.

There was quite a turnout to watch the grand parade procession

The carnival also had a dog show, stage acts and many different choices of food, drink, rides and stalls.

Michelle Barratt, aged 40, of Prestwich, was a stallholder at the carnival with her events brand So Prestwich.

She said: “It’s great to have it back, I used to come as a kid from Prestwich. I remember my mum and dad having stalls here as a kid.

Plenty of weird and wonderful additions were in the procession this year

“It’s been away for a couple of years because of Covid but it’s great to have it back – it’s back with a bang.”

Michelle also spoke about her own stall and what she does in Prestwich.

She added: “I wanted to do something to promote and help local businesses. In the pandemic people increasingly wanted to support local, shop local.”

Michelle puts on events to showcase the businesses too.

Plenty of revellers had fun at the carnival

She said: “I’m putting on my own events. We did a cake and bake show in March, nearly 200 people came.”

Camina Saunders, aged 42, also of Prestwich, was part of the information stall at the carnival.

She said: “It’s really amazing to have it back. We’ve had a lot of people here, been selling the programmes.”