This year's Farnham Carnival on Saturday, June 24 promises a number of exciting interactive innovations, all designed to bring a new level of excitement and interest to the day’s festivities.

At the Gostrey Meadow Fayre, reflecting the carnival’s theme of The Wonderful World of Books, throughout the afternoon starting at 2pm there will be a special book tent with a series of readings of well-known stories and authors for children of various ages.

At least one of the half-hour sessions will include multi-media story-telling through dance and movement: in addition there will be some signed volumes and even free books for the lucky winners!

For the first time, the fayre will also underline Farnham’s national status as specialist craft town with its own craft marquee.

Created in conjunction with Helen Lewis of Anytime Artisans, visitors will be able to marvel at the skills on view by local artists producing extraordinary results using a diverse range of materials.

And animal lovers will also be catered for, with a Charity dog show organised by the East Street-based Farnham Veterinary Group. 

With prizes and rosettes for different classes including puppies, Loveliest Lady, Fabulous Fella, Golden Oldie and Young Handler, there will be something for everyone for whom canines are man’s best friend. 

For more information regarding entries, visit [email protected]

Providing the usual wide mix of musical styles, together with the legendary Brodie Mauluka and Brobed Stills, this year’s carnival will welcome a host of well-known bands to the Gostrey stage for the first time, including Off the Record, Two Weeks in Nashville, True Deceivers and The Sleeping Dogs.  

Turning to the parade, excitement is already building among entrants keen to display their enthusiasm and creativity in showcasing their favourite book characters, as the procession weaves its way around the town between 6pm to 7.30pm.

So who knows whether you might bump into Fagin, Hercule Poirot, the Grinch or Hagrid on the day?  

There’s still room in the parade for last-minute entries and the organisers also keen for more marshals to help with the procession, so if you’d like to find out more, visit the carnival website at www.farnhamcarnival.org.uk

Supporting all this, there are also two major new carnival sponsors for 2023, with Biffa as principal sponsor of the fayre and Greenlife Designs UK Ltd as principal sponsor for the parade.

“So,” says carnival chairman Graham Noakes, “if you like nothing better than to get your nose stuck into a good book, come and join us on June 24 and watch it come alive!”