Market Drayton was buzzing with colour, music and smiles on Saturday as thousands of people lined the streets to enjoy another fantastic Market Drayton Carnival, celebrating everything that’s great about our community. The annual carnival, held on Saturday 18 July, transformed the town centre into a vibrant family festival packed with entertainment, activities and one of the year’s most spectacular parades.
From the moment the festivities began, there was something happening wherever you looked. Families enjoyed inflatables, face painting, the popular alpaca petting zone, balloon modelling and a wide range of stalls throughout the town centre. Danny Drayton kept the crowds entertained from the live stage throughout the day with music, fun and plenty of audience participation, helping to create a fantastic atmosphere from start to finish.
Outside the Town Hall, visitors were also able to discover the brand-new Gingerbread House, showcasing a wonderful selection of gingerbread gifts made right here in Market Drayton. The Gingerbread Man was also out meeting families throughout the day, posing for photographs and adding to the fun.
One of the biggest highlights was, of course, the carnival parade. Led by the Mayor of Market Drayton, Cllr Tim Manton, the colourful procession made its way through the town to huge applause from the crowds lining the streets. Community groups, performers, businesses and organisations all played their part in creating a parade full of energy, creativity and community spirit. It was wonderful to see so many local people turning out to support the event and celebrate together.
Events like the Market Drayton Carnival simply wouldn’t happen without volunteers. Months of planning, organising and hard work go into creating a day like this, and everyone involved deserves enormous thanks for giving up their time to bring such a successful event to the town.
If Saturday inspired you and you’d like to play a part in making next year’s carnival even bigger and better, organisers would love to hear from you. Whether you can spare a few hours in the run-up to the event or help on the day itself, new volunteers are always welcome.
The summer fun doesn’t stop here either. There are plenty more activities taking place over the school holidays, including free sports activities for children, the Market Drayton Discovery Trail, where families can explore the town while solving clues and learning about its fascinating history, and the ever-popular Historic Pub Walk, offering a unique way to discover Market Drayton’s rich heritage.
Looking ahead to September, Make it Market Drayton will once again be bringing the community together with another Community Day, taking place alongside the Artisan Market on the second Saturday before the Ginger & Spice Festival. Visitors can once again look forward to family activities, local organisations, entertainment and another great reason to spend the day in Market Drayton.
Saturday’s carnival was a brilliant reminder of what makes Market Drayton such a special place. A huge thank you goes to every volunteer, performer, exhibitor, organiser and visitor who helped make the day such a memorable success. Here’s to doing it all again next year!
