Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury Carnival 2018 - in video and pictures

The streets of Shrewsbury came to a standstill as thousands of people stood to watch dozens of floats, dancers and musicians make their way through the town for the annual carnival.

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Shrewsbury Amateur Operatic Society at Shrewsbury Carnival 2018

With a theme of musicals, there was a definite theatrical feeling to this year's event.

A fun fair and stalls were set up in the Quarry and spectators were able to cast a glance over the many, highly-decorated floats.

WATCH: Carnival parades through Shrewsbury

Pulled by car, lorry or tractor, the floats had taken weeks of painstaking work to complete.

There was Bugsy Malone, The Lion King, Billy Elliott, Grease, The Wizard of Oz, Harry Potter and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Mayor of Shrewsbury Peter Nutting and his wife Julie headed the parade in a shiny black open-top BMW.

Car park protester

Halfway round they were joined by a placard-carrying man protesting against the planned car parking prices hike who continued his solitary march alongside the mayor's car as it wove its way through the town.

The parade, which set off at 2pm, was led by Shrewsbury Town Crier Martin Wood and watched by thousands of people who lined the streets from Smithfield Road to High Street and Barker Street.

Among the vehicles and floats were double-decker buses, a parade of bikes, a drum corps, dancers and roller skaters.

Shelley Oliver, carnival secretary was extremely happy with how the event had passed off.

"It has been really good," she said.

"We have been very busy. I did think that the weather may keep people away but it didn't. It is fantastic.

"Everybody turns out every year and supports us. It is not a big event compared to may in Shrewsbury but we have a great following.

"Every penny we raise is for charity. Last year we gave money to 22 charities and that was all down the generosity of everyone who comes along to support us."

Enjoying the show were Mark and Emma Jones, from Harlescott, Shrewsbury, with their daughter Millie, aged six.

Emma said: "It is a brilliant day out. I love coming to the carnival. I try and come every year and we really enjoy it. The floats are amazing. Everyone has gone to so much trouble."