East Devon’s colourful carnivals

Axminster Carnival, 1999. Picture: Midweek Herald archives (Image: Copyright 2002)

The colourful, illuminated processions with their flamboyant performers are big events for each town, celebrations of community spirit, and a lot of fun.

They are also a big achievement. The people involved in designing, decorating and riding on the floats are in the spotlight, but in each town there is also an army of people dealing with routine tasks and red tape, such as organising road closures. There are fundraisers, business sponsors, and the many marshals and other volunteers helping out on carnival night.

This year's carnival calendar is as follows: Seaton - Saturday, August 31, 8pm start; Colyton - Saturday, September 7, 8pm start; Axminster - Saturday, September 14, 8pm start; Sidmouth - Saturday, September 21, 7pm start; Budleigh Salterton - Saturday, September 28, 6pm start; Ottery St Mary - Saturday, October 19, 7pm start; and Honiton - Saturday, October 26, 7pm start.

To get our readers into the carnival spirit and bring back some happy memories, we have assembled some of our favourite photos of East Devon's carnivals from past years.

Axminster Carnival, 1999. Picture: Midweek Herald archives (Image: Copyright 2002)

Honiton Carnival, 1999. Picture: Midweek Herald archives (Image: Copyright 2002)

Honiton Carnival, 1999. Picture: Midweek Herald archives (Image: Copyright 2002)

Honiton Carnival, 1999. Picture: Midweek Herald archives (Image: Copyright 2002)

Honiton Carnival, 1999. Picture: Midweek Herald archives (Image: Copyright 2002)

Newton Poppleford Carnival, 1999. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archives (Image: Copyright 2002)

Newton Poppleford Carnival, 1999. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archives (Image: Copyright 2002)

Newton Poppleford Carnival, 1999. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archives (Image: Copyright 2002)

Newton Poppleford Carnival, 1999. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archives (Image: Copyright 2002)

Sidmouth Carnival, 1999. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archives (Image: Copyright 2002)

Sidmouth Carnival, 1999. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archives (Image: Copyright 2002)

Sidmouth Carnival, 1999. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archives (Image: Copyright 2002)

Axminster Carnival, 1999. Picture: Midweek Herald archives (Image: Copyright 2002)

Sidmouth Carnival, 1999. Picture: Sidmouth Herald archives (Image: Copyright 2002)

Ottery Carnival 2018. Picture: Alex Walton Photography (Image: Picture: Alex Walton Photography)

Ottery Carnival 2018. Picture: Alex Walton Photography (Image: Picture: Alex Walton Photography)

Ottery Carnival 2018. Picture: Alex Walton Photography (Image: Picture: Alex Walton Photography)