THE programme for this year's carnival week, organised by the Lions Club of Tavistock, has been finalised, and music to suit most tastes will play an important part of the festivities. It kicks off on Saturday July 12 with 'Jazz at the Bridge', an evening at Harford Bridge Holiday Park, Peter Tavy where jazz lovers can go to picnic in the great outdoors and enjoy music from the popular Carlton Swing Band and the Roger Marks' Armada Jazz Band. The musical theme continues on the Monday night with the 'Folk Music Night', featuring many popular local soloists and groups such as 'Squandered Youth' and the 'Tavy Tars' and which this year moves back to the Ordulph Arms. On Wednesday July 16 in Tavistock Parish Church, there is another evening of musical entertainment, which following the success of last year, will again feature music from Stannary Brass Band and songs from the Tavistock Musical Theatre Company and Tavistock Children's Theatre Club. At the other end of the musical spectrum is the rock night on the Friday of carnival week when the Rock 'n' Roll Outlaws, a group of young local musicians will be playing from 7.30pm at the Union Inn, King Street, Tavistock, the evening being sponsored by Francis Jasper, the pub's landlord. Other events during an action packed week include the annual baby show in the parish rooms on Saturday July 12 and sponsored by Duke's Coffee House and Boots. It starts at 10am with two judging groups, one for the under 1 year and the second for 1 to 2 years. The following day sees 'Fun Day in the Meadows', starting at noon which this year will include the Round Table's 'Day at the Races' pantomime horse racing which was such a popular part of the town's Balloon Fiesta. The fun day will also include the crowning of Rebekah Hainsworth, this year's carnival princess, accompanied by her attendants Emily Attfield and Millie Hames as well as music from Blowzone, a companion dog show together with demonstrations of dog agility and flyball, hot air balloon demonstrations — weather permitting —, children's rides and entertainment as well as a licensed bar. Monday at 6pm sees the annual friendly bowls competition when at the Drake Bowling Club in Plymouth Road, councillors representing their local parishes battle it out to see which one is the bowls champion. On Tuesday at 6pm, young artists can draw all over the pavements in Brook Street as part of the ever-popular pavement artists competition, which is sponsored by Mainly Stationery. For the more active, on Thursday Tavistock Athletics Club will be staging 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 taking light refreshment at each location. Saturday July 19 is the main carnival day with the 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 'From Hollywood to Bollywood', has a changed route this year. 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. Hopefully, this will make it easier for the walkers in the procession as the uphill climb will now come earlier than before and from Rocky Hill, it will be downhill and flat all the way until the end. The week then concludes with the carnival draw at 8pm in Bedford Square. Full details of all the carnival events will be published in the Times and the carnival magazine Mardi Gras which will be hand delivered by the Lions around Tavistock.
