Carnival procession saved thanks to local holiday park
Paignton’s carnival procession has been saved and a date has been revealed for its 2023 comeback.
Rumours were circulating that the historic event may not return due to lack of funding, but the operators of Hoburne Devon Bay holiday park have provided a generous sponsorship.
The procession, which was part of Paignton Festival’s nine-day summer celebration, has not run for three years due to COVID and budgetary issues, but now it is full steam ahead for the event next year, and a date has been set for Wednesday 26 July.
The popular carnival procession, which will now be known as the Hoburne Devon Bay Carnival Procession, will feature locally entered floats starting at the green on the seafront and passing through Preston, Torquay, and Paignton.
Commenting on the sponsorship, general manager of Hoburne Devon Bay, Gary Cook, said: “In years gone by, thousands would line the streets to watch the procession, and we want to return the event back to its former glory and get the whole community behind it. Next year’s Hoburne Devon Bay Carnival Procession will be the first since the pandemic, and working with the team of dedicated volunteers, we want to make it bigger and better than ever before.”
Chairman of Paignton’s Festival, Michael Bailey, added: “Thanks to the kind donation from Hoburne Devon Bay we are now able to bring back a part to our event that was missed very much so by our team, and as a collective the people of Torbay.
“Our carnival procession will return for 2023, under the agreed name of 'Hoburne Devon Bay Carnival Procession' which we were more than happy to agree to, taking into consideration Hoburne Devon Bay's kind donation.
“The Wednesday when this takes place will mean that the entire day will be packed with fun-filled activities for the whole family, including displays, activities and a whole host of entertainment leading us into the procession beginning at 19:30.
“The team at Paignton Festival are eternally grateful for the kind and enormous donation from Hoburne, and we are so excited to bring the procession back for 2023 and working alongside Hoburne for years to come.”
