With Long Eaton Carnival taking place this weekend, we’re taking a trip down memory lane to a time when Ilkeston had a carnival of its own.
For many local people, Ilkeston Carnival was one of the highlights of the year.
The day would begin with a colourful procession assembling on Cotmanhay Road before making its way through the town centre. Floats representing local businesses, charities, schools and community groups would travel up Bath Street, accompanied by marching bands, dancers, entertainers and carnival royalty. Thousands of people would line the route to watch the parade pass by.
Once the procession had made its way through town, the celebrations continued at the Rutland Recreation Ground, where families could spend the entire day enjoying live entertainment, community stalls, competitions, displays and attractions. The carnival became one of the town’s biggest annual community events and a tradition that generations of Ilkeston families grew up with.
Looking through these photographs, it’s easy to see why the event is remembered so fondly.
There are images of marching bands making their way through the town centre, carnival queens proudly representing Ilkeston, packed crowds on the Recreation Ground, community performances, family attractions and the many local organisations that helped make the event possible.
The carnival wasn’t just about entertainment. It brought together businesses, charities, sports clubs, schools and community groups from across the town. It was a chance to showcase local talent, raise money for good causes and celebrate everything that made Ilkeston unique.
While the carnival is no longer part of the town’s calendar, the memories remain strong for many residents.
Did you ever take part in the procession? Do you remember building a float, marching with a band, competing in an event or being crowned carnival royalty?
And perhaps the biggest question of all – would you like to see Ilkeston Carnival return one day?
Share your memories in the comments below.
Photo credit: Thank you to Garth Newton for these great photos – please visit his website for more images of Ilkeston in times gone by…
Images reproduced under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Licence. Please credit photographer Garth Newton and link to the original gallery where possible.
