A riot of colour and music was enjoyed today (August 2) as Margate carnival parade wound its way from Palm Bay to Westbrook.
Residents lining the route were treated to a display including Clary Salandy with her group Mahogany; Paraiso School of Samba, Bolivian-Andean folk dance groups, Tinkus Kay’Sur and Salay Bolivia and a team from Ghostbusters south east team – complete with the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
There were flapper girls, showgirls, carnival courts, Woody from Toy Story and naughty sprites alongside Samba Ya Wantsum, Margate Jetsetters, Thanet Sprocket Rockets cycle club, Sparkles Belly Dancers, Margate Sea Cadets, St John Ambulance, Thanet Wanderers RUFC, Bugsy Malone from Canterbury Panto and more.
The parade set off after the official ribbon cutting by Margate mayor Leo Britcher.
The category prizes were awarded as follows:
- Best Walking Dancing Group: Sparkles Bellydance
- Best Decorated Large Float: Thanet Lifeguard Club
- Best Decorated Small Float: KSS Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex
- Best Dance Group: Canterbury Panto/Bugsy Malone
- Best Band: Samba Ya Wantsum
- Best Court: Deal Community Carnival Association
- Most Environmentally Friendly: Cycling UK, Thanet Sprocket Rockets community cycle club
- Best Young People’s Entry: Future Performing Arts
- Spirit of Carnival: The Crib
Organisers, Great British Carnival CIC, are based in Margate, Ramsgate and London and run Carnival arts programmes that produce puppets and props, costume, dance and drumming.
