NEWTOWN is gearing up for its annual summer extravaganza which brings the whole town together for a weekend of fun.

The Carnival is on this Saturday, June 9, and the entertainment includes a bustling parade, Silver and Brass bands, a licensed bar, food stalls, a duck race and all kinds of entertainment.

Assembling at Lower Canal Road, the parade will set off at 12.30pm, led by Newtown Carnival Queen 2018, Holly Jones, and her attendants.

The procession will then turn right at Cambrian Way and follow the road on to Commercial Street, turning left at the roundabout onto Longbridge street before going down broad street, turning right on to the High Street and another right going in to Back Lane before arriving at the Town Hall grounds by 1.15pm.

Music will be provided by Newtown Silver Band while people disembark from the floats.

The jam packed afternoon continues at 1.45pm when the visiting Carnival Queens will be announced.

They will be joined by Army and RAF cadets as part of the commemoration of 100 years since the end of the First World War.

Newtown Carnival Queen, Holly Jones, will be officially crowned and from 2pm the winners of the floats and pedestrians walking beside them will be announced.

During the afternoon the a whole host of groups from Newtown will take their opportunity to shine in the *fingers crossed* sunshine.

At 2.15pm, Maldwyn Gymnastics will take centre stage and perform displays of gymnastic feats.

At 2.45pm, Rising Stars Drama Group will be acting some scenes from musicals that they have recently performed.

They will be followed by RBD Academy dancing group who will be performing from 3.15pm.

Guitarist/vocalist, Sam Williams will entertain the crowd before Footloose dance group take centre stage at 4.15pm. They will be quickly followed by the NYP dancers.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Marc Harpham from 4.45pm who will be quickly followed by Dance Fusion, before the the day reaches its climax with the Carnival Raffle prize draw at 5.15pm.

Then on Sunday, June 10, the seventh annual Silver/brass band march and hymn competition takes place in Newtown.

The bands march from the cock to the Town Hall where they play hymns.

At 2.30pm the dck race takes place, but this year there's a twist!

The ducks are tired of floating down the river Severn and will be resting their feathers on the lawn.

Carnival Queen Holly will be blindfolded and sent amongst the ducks to pick out the winners.

Then, on Friday, June 15, organisers will be holding a Race Nights at the Monty Club from 7pm as they take little time to rest on their laurels and start fundraising for the 2019 carnival.

Organiser Jen Reynolds said: "We're hoping for good weather, I've put the order in.

"It's an excellent carnival, the field will be full of stalls with the usual tea tent, bar and funfair.

"This is a good way of bringing the whole of Newtown together for a weekend.

"I'm looking forward to it, but the rest of this week will be stressful as we finish getting everything ready."

n For more on the carnival, email newtowncarnival@hotmail.co.uk or visit the facebook page: facebook.com/Newtowncarnival/