ALL the fun of the carnival will be coming to Amesbury this weekend as thousands are expected to flock to one the biggest events in the town's yearly calendar.

Saturday’s Amesbury Carnival procession and show, featuring live music, military and parachute displays, children’s activities and a dog show, will be preceded by a week-long programme of events, including for the first time this year, Music in the Park, a live concert Friday evening.

First held in the 1920s, the Amesbury Carnival has undergone something of a renaissance in recent years, with visitor numbers rising from around 3,500 in 2008 to an anticipated 10,000 people this year.

The carnival procession from 11.30am will see highly decorated floats, following the theme of heroes, and will be headed by a Spiderman Band. The procession will leave Stonehenge School and travel around the town before entering Holders Road field where prize giving will take place, then the fun begins with arena displays as well as other activities around the show ground.

Entertainment at the event’s three showgrounds will include the Spiderman band, a rodeo show, a horse-drawn steam fire engine, a one man and his dog show, military displays, Lady Chichester’s camels, a climbing wall, animal petting and the ever popular dog show.

Phil Monk, a member of the organising committee who has been running the show for several years, said: “The Amesbury Carnival is the biggest event in the town by far and helps to bring the community together. More than 100 volunteers will be helping out on the day to make sure the event is a roaring success and we hope as many people as possible will come along to enjoy the day.

“We’ve put together a packed programme of entertainment which we hope will provide something for everyone, and make for a really enjoyable day out for the whole community. The carnival just keeps growing every year and we are confident that will continue in 2016.”

Friday's free concert, Music in the Park, will be at Holders Field and the fun fair will be in operation throughout the evening. On Thursday the venue will be hosting a Disco on the Dodgems event.

Donations made at the event will go towards the carnival’s chosen charities for 2016, which are the Wiltshire and Air Ambulance and Blesma, a charity which supports limbless soldiers.

For more information visit amesburyshow.co.uk