Carnival Week

To start with, let me make no bones about the fact that I can't think of a verb strong enough to describe how negatively I feel about carnival week, and summer holidays in general where I live on the south coast of Devon. It is a HIVE of tourists. Yes I know that they fund our economy or whatever, but I really just can't cope with the SLOWNESS of them, whether they are on foot or in a car they are SNAILS. Seriously.

Anyhow, having said that, and having lived here for coming up to seven years now, this was the first year that I / we (our church) have actually been involved in some way in it. *oh the shame*. But no, it IS a good opportunity to meet people and get involved in the community and all that jazz.

So carnival... what is it? That's what I wondered when we first moved here too... check out the website here. There are loads of events all week, a trolley race, competitions (beautiful baby, most obedient dog.. etc), treasure hunts... that kind of stuff. Then in Dawlish (as opposed to all the other south devonian town carnivals), one day there is a FREE "international airshow" - including the Red Arrows. (it's one redeeming feature in my eyes, but I digress..) And finally one evening there's the "procession".. which apparently can reach up to one mile in length, and the route is only 2 1/2 miles altogether. Anyhow it's lots of organisations... local businesses, schools and towns... and they each put together a float based on a theme. (This year's was apparently transport... to celebrate 175 years of railways in the south devon area.) and then they all go and "process" around town. Apparently 25, 000 people come to watch it. :|

And you wonder why I hate it? In case you were wondering, the population of Dawlish is about 13,000
And that's nothing compared to the airshow day though, last year's attendance? - 90,000

But anyhow, enough of the moaning... that was all by means of introduction... Today was the last day of carnival week and there was a charities fair down on the lawn (big grassy area by the stream that runs through the middle of town), so we got ourselves a stand.

yep, the photos on the website might make it look as though it's guaranteed sunshine during carnival week... not so.

here's my dad sheltering in the gazeebo with our amazing banner!

(no, he's not made of asbestos, it was surprisingly warm despite the rain)

We had a table of free literature and displayed these posters from the sunday school. There were also tables for familes to come and enter a colouring competition or make a paper boat.

Then there was the best marketing idea in the history of church sunday school marketing

Balloooooooons!!

Amazing.

I wanted to share that... feel free to rob the idea (which we robbed from someone else to start with) if you want to!

Anyhow, to end:

a typical day at Dawlish carnival...