CARNIVAL fun is underway in Dorchester with the county town set for a blockbuster of a celebration.

The new look event will see Brewery Square take centre stage for much of the action today with the highlight of the festivities a movie themed carnival procession.

Yesterday saw the arrival of Wynns Fun Fair in town, with youngsters from Westfield Technology College, Mountjoy School and the Dorchester Opportunity Group enjoying free rides before the fair was opened up to the public.

Andrew Jones, of the Rotary Club, said: “One of the easiest things that I have done for Rotary, but by far the most rewarding.”

The club said it would like to thank Wynns Fun Fair, and also all to the volunteers that got involved, the staff and parents, and most of all the children that made it a special occasion.

There was also an Italian market set up in Brewery Square and the traditional four-legged pub crawl and Party in the Park in the Borough Gardens.

Today there will be stalls and a street fair in Brewery Square from 9am and live music from 10am.

The main event, the carnival parade, starts at 6pm from the Fairfield car park and has a new route this year.

The floats will head through Brewery Square and along Weymouth Avenue before heading up Trinity Street, along Princes Street and back down Cornwall Road to the market car park. After the procession there will be more live music in Brewery Square until 10pm.

Carnival chairman John Palmer said the weekend had got off to a great start and urged people to come and enjoy today’s entertainment.

He said: “Carnival is here, the sun is shining, the bands are booked and the funfair is ready to make you smile. We have food aplenty at Brewery Square with the Italians providing a market, even if they cannot play football they certainly do nice food.

“Come and join us and watch the parade at 6pm and enjoy the carnival.”

Mr Palmer said he would like to thank all those who had been working tirelessly over the last few weeks to make the Carnival happen.

They include the Dorchester Round Table, Dorchester and Casterbridge Rotary Clubs, the Dorchester Lions Club, Mmm... nice music, Jewsons, the Odeon cinema, Qwikfast, C.G.Fry & Son and Wynns Fun Fair.

At a glance

  • Stalls and a street fair setting up in Brewery Square from 9am with live music in the square from 10am.
  • The main carnival procession sets off from Fairfield car park at 6pm.
  • After the procession there will be live music in Brewery Square until 10pm.
  • For details of any events and how to get involved email johnapalmer2msn.com