5,000 people brave rain to line streets for bumper Oswaldtwistle Carnival

Excited members of the public lined the streets to watch a parade and enjoyed activities on offer.

About 5,000 people flocked to Oswaldtwistle Carnival last Sunday despite the downpour. Town crier, Rawden Kerr opened the parade which set off from Harvey Street, travelled along Thwaites Road, Union Road and back to Harvey Street for a family fun day and activities on White Ash Playing Fields.

Oswaldtwistle Carnival Chair, Stacy Walsh, said: “Whilst the parade was a little wet everyone joined in and had a great time. People lined the streets to wave to everyone in the parade.

“People in Ossy always show us great support.”

The vibrant procession was led by the Accrington Pipe Band and featured music from Suco Samba.

READ MORE

• Baby Harlow Collinge laughs in heartbreaking footage before tragic death

• New 'no flash' speed cameras issuing 234 fines a day as drivers issued warning

Community groups including cheerleaders, dance schools and football clubs also joined the parade. People enthusiastically waved flags and donned garlands for the ‘Our World’ themed parade.

Two busses were brought in specially for the parade and featured characters such as Sponge Bob, Paw Patrol and a Teenage Mutant Turtle. Comedy fans were delighted to see an Only Fools and Horses replica van.

On the field there was a full packed stage sponsored by Imep International, led by compare Danny Dalton from Music and Mayhem, with performances from Morgan Halliwell, Lucy Hinchcliffe, React Academy, Emma Louise Cheer Leaders and 1980’s band Radioactive.

Visitors watched a Princess and Pirate show in awe which was provided by Once upon a Princess North West. More than 60 stalls were present and stall holders say they had a great day.

Children enjoyed a range of free activities which the carnival committee say they feel strongly about. There were two face painters and a glitter artist at the event and there was arts and crafts, crazy mini golf, a soft play area, football beat the goalie and reenactment shows from Historia Normandis.

Dinosaurs greeted guests and there was a dinosaur dig. There were also Imperial Alliance Storm troopers and Princess meet and greets.

Before the event took place organisers announced that the parade would be ‘significantly’ reduced in size following a number of last-minute pull outs and the venue was forced to change last week “due to the bad weather”.

The committee said Rhyddings Park was not suitable due to the forecasted conditions and “if we went ahead it could be a H&S disaster”.

Last month, it was also confirmed that there would be no fun fair at this year’s event due to paperwork issues. However, despite the setbacks the carnival was a great success and people showed great community spirit while braving the rain.

Organisers say Oswaldtwistle Carnival will return in 2026.