23 April is always the biggest party day of the year in Stoke, and yesterday was no exception!
Normally held to celebrate St George's Day, this year's Stoke Carnival also celebrated the 30th anniversary of the ZX Spectrum home computer, still year-on-year the biggest selling computer in Stoke.
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| The carnival passes through Burslem, amongst other places... |
Even in a time of economic crisis, numbers are expected to be up – largely boosted by domestic tourism. Some 720,000 revellers are thought to have attended yesterday, a slight increase over last year's 710,000.
Massive ranks of seating and barriers are constructed along the route taken by competing street dance crews. The crews start major dress rehearsals (superb parties in themselves) after Christmas (having been practicing since last carnival's end!). In Stoke-upon-Trent, in the massive purpose-built buildings where the floats are prepared, preparations are underway months in advance and there are even international volunteering organisations bringing people to Stoke specifically to help set up infrastructure for the carnival.
This year's carnival was a relatively peaceful affair, enjoyed by all. Only 32 stabbings and 15 deaths were reported, a new record low for the festival. Peter Crouch and Anthea Turner were named this year's King and Queen of the Carnival!
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| ...and ends in Hanley with a mass tribute to Peter Crouch's famous robot dance |
This year's carnival was a relatively peaceful affair, enjoyed by all. Only 32 stabbings and 15 deaths were reported, a new record low for the festival. Peter Crouch and Anthea Turner were named this year's King and Queen of the Carnival!
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