Harborne Carnival 2014

Went for an early morning walk (today 22 June 2014) to see the fair etc. setting up in Harborne High St.

Was told by one of the ride operators that most of the big stuff arrived around 5:00 am but smaller rides and stalls were arriving whilst I was wandering along the High St - the pavements were full of vehicles and stalls so the safest place was to walk in the road, dodging arriving vans and trucks.

I took a few photos of the fair being set up. The fair is organised by Robert Wilkinson's Funfair (Birmingham) although only the Miami thrill ride set up at the end of my road is his. Apart from his daughter's Catering trailer all the rest of the rides are from other families/companies but the whole thing is organised by Robert Wilkinson.

The whole Carnival will be gone by 7:00 pm tonight and apart from the litter, you would never know anything had taken place.

Apart from the fair, both pavement areas are full of local good causes & local business stalls and the whole reason for the Carnival is to create an inclusive local community and to allow all the good causes to pitch their wares or interests and raise money and awareness for their issues.

There wasn't one last year because the organiser was ill and the local council took the opportunity to rip up the pavements (and road in one place) to install new street lighting - and boy was it missed! Apart from anything else, Carnival weekend is normally blue skies and boiling hot but in 2013 it poured with rain and was chilly. Yes, I know it's a coincidence but a heck of one.

The weather is brilliant, let's hope they get the big crowds. It is said it's the biggest one-day carnival in England!

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Note: After the event, the local press released a few images showing happy people enjoying the day, 3 of which are shown below: