THE programme for this year's Tavistock carnival week, organised by the town's Lions Club, has now been finalised and music and activities to suit most tastes will be an important part of the week's festivities.

It kicks off on Saturday, July 11 at 6pm with 'Jazz at the Bridge', an evening at Harford Bridge Holiday Park, Peter Tavy, where jazz lovers can picnic and enjoy music from Band of Gold and the Dart Valley Stompers.

The musical theme continues on July 15 in Tavistock Parish Church, with entertainment from the Stannary Brass Band and songs from Tavistock Musical Theatre Company and the Tavistock Children's Theatre Club.

At the other end of the musical spectrum is the rock night on the Friday of carnival week, when young local musicians will be playing from 9pm at the Union Inn, King Street, Tavistock, the evening being sponsored by Francis Jasper, the pub's landlord.

Other events during the week include the annual baby show in the parish rooms on July 11 sponsored by Dukes Coffee House and Boots.

Starting at 10am, there are two judging groups, one for the under one year and the second for one to two years.

The following day sees a new event for Carnival week — a ladies' run of five miles and a junior fun run of one and a half miles, for boys and girls under the age of 18.

Organised by Tavistock Rotary Club in conjunction with Tavistock Athletic Club and West Devon Borough Council, both runs will start on Tavistock Viaduct at 10am and 10.10am respectively. For information call Hannah Colston on 01822 813628.

Later that day 'Fun Day in the Meadows' starts at 1pm, to include the crowning of Jessica-Louise Parfitt, this year's carnival princess, accompanied by her attendants Kayleigh Ball and Jennifer Adkins. The day will feature music from Blowzone and Tubes, a companion dog show together with demonstrations of dog agility and flyball, hot air balloon demonstrations (weather permitting), children's rides, car boot sale and entertainment, as well as a live music and a licensed bar provided by Tavistock Round Table.

On the Monday evening there is a family walking treasure hunt around the town centre starting in Bedford Square at 6pm and on Tuesday, also at 6pm, the ever-popular pavement artists competition takes place, sponsored by Mainly Stationery.

On Thursday evening Tavistock Athletic Club will hold the town relay races starting at 6.30pm from Meadowlands and for those who like to drink and definitely not drive, Friday sees the three legged pub race starting at 7.30pm when teams of two race between various pubs within the town.

Saturday, July 18 is carnival day with an all-day fair in Bedford Square and where people will have the last chance to buy their draw tickets from members of the Lions Club.

The procession, the theme for which is 'Tell us a Story'. It will start in Down Road at 6.30pm, following its normal route until it reaches the square when it will then go straight across turning left into West Street then Ford Street, turning left at the mini roundabout by Drake's Stores and then left again at Drake's Statue then along Plymouth Road.

It will then turn right across Abbey Bridge and then right again into Whitchurch Road where it will then disperse at Abbey Rise.

The week concludes with the carnival draw at 8pm in Bedford Square.

The Lions will be also running two competitions as part of the carnival festivities, one for local photographers which was featured in last week's Times, and the second for eagle-eyed people who can spot items in shop windows not normally sold by those traders. Altogether 20 shops are taking part and entry forms are available from the Fireplace and Stove Centre, Towls, Jelly, Polly Perkins and Todds in Market Street.

Full details of the shop competition will also be published in the Mardi Gras carnival magazine which will be hand delivered around Tavistock — full details of carnival events will also be shown in the Times.