CARNIVAL organisers have issued an ultimatum to businesses in Leamington.
They say this summer’s Leamington Carnival will be the last unless more support is received from town businesses.
Carnival organising committee spokeswoman Steph Manning said: “The event costs around £6,000 to put on. We simply cannot find the funding to do this anymore. There has been a lack of support from businesses from in and around the town which is a massive disappointment.
“The event attracts thousands of people into the town centre and we feel it is a benefit for the town. We want to keep this community event alive, but with no support we can’t do this.”
Organisers say if each of Leamington’s some 500 businesses donated £12 each it would cover the annual cost of the carnival.
And they have told businesses unless support is forthcoming by the end of June for the 2019 carnival then the plug will be pulled.
It has been a rollercoaster ride for the carnival since it was successfully revived in 2014 after an 18 year absence from the town’s streets. The following year’s carnival was cancelled after struggling to recruit volunteers onto the organising committee, but it made another successful return in 2016, only for a lack of floats to then threaten to halt the procession last year.
This year’s carnival takes place on Saturday July 14. Over 15 organisations have signed up to take part in the procession of floats, and there will be also be stalls, a fun fair and live entertainment in the Pump Room Gardens.
Visit www.leamingtoncarival.org.uk for further details.
