ALL the thrills and spills of Brazil are set to come to Tavistock, when the town’s annual carnival week returns in July.

With the summer Olympic Games due to take place in Brazil later this year, the Lions Club of Tavistock, organisers of carnival week, has chosen ‘Road to Rio’ as the theme for this year’s carnival procession, which will take place on Saturday, July 16.

A spokesperson for Tavistock Lions Club said: ‘Mardi Gras in Rio de Janeiro is renowned for its colourful costumes and music from the samba bands and the Lions are hoping that some of these features, as well as the Olympic Games, will help influence the entries into Tavistock’s own carnival.

‘So now is the time for groups, clubs, schools and individuals to start thinking about their entry and if any assistance is needed, the Lions are willing to help with ideas and to that end, its members are setting up a series of workshops to show how to make costumes. People wishing to participate can call Jeff Lea on 01822 613018, John Dawson on 01822 616641 or Richard Marlow on 01822 258036.

‘Over the years, the number of motorised floats has diminished due in part to concerns about liability and insurance so the club has produced an information sheet which should dispel the myths and rumours about the use of vehicles in the procession and which clearly sets out the legal position.

‘If there are any owners of suitable flat bed lorries or trailers who would like to offer their services, they can call us on 0845 8334807.

‘Music is also an important and integral part of the procession so we would love to hear from anyone involved with a samba or jazz band who would like to take part and help Tavistock stage a carnival to rival Rio!’

To minimise disruption to traffic on the outskirts of the town while the procession is in progress and to make it easier for walking entries by shortening the route and eliminating the walk up West Street, the Lions Club is considering changing the route of the procession.

Entries would still assemble in Down Road going from there into the Square then turning left into Plymouth Road and then right into Russell Street, right into West Street going through the town centre along Duke Street before turning right into Market Road where it would disperse.

A further change would be that the entries would be judged on route, thus reducing the time spent during the assembly process in Down Road with the class winners being brought into Bedford Square at the end for the presentation of prizes following which the carnival draw would take place.

The Lions have been organising Tavistock’s carnival for more than 35 years and are anxious that the procession should be a fitting finale to the week’s events and with the help that the club is willing to offer with entries and the change of route, it is confident that this will be an exciting and colourful year.