UP to 15,000 people are expected to pack into Pewsey tonight as a year of hard work and organisation comes to fruition at the annual carnival procession.

Starting with the first event of the carnival proceedings on July 9 with the carnival queen competition, the festivities haven’t fallen short over the past two months. With the welcome editions of such events as the Pewsey carnival scarecrow trail, the committee has been pulling out all the stops.

The procession will mark the end of the schedule of activities which the village has been enjoying over the last few weeks. Starting at 7.30pm and leaving from the Carnival Field in Milton Road, the procession will be lighting up the streets of Pewsey.

Carnival committee president Nick Wood said: “We only have a couple more events before the actual procession. The cogs are turning and everything is in motion, this year I have had extra things to do such as the road closures and signage which was dealt with by a company before we took over the duties last year.”

Members of the committee have been working round the clock to ensure that this year’s events were fun and enjoyable, something the carnival has been well-known for since its beginnings in 1898.

“We have always been very busy when organising the event, but we always get a lot of support from people in the community. I think it will be very rewarding come the end of it all, fingers crossed everyone will enjoy the procession. Everything that people work for, from the Cossor’s tea party to the wheelbarrow event, culminates in the procession,” added Mr Wood.

Since the carnival began in 1898, it has been the most important date in the village’s calendar and quickly grew to become Wiltshire’s biggest, and oldest, illuminated procession. A few years back the carnival committee announced there would be a ban from people drinking alcohol during the event as there was a tendency for people to get a bit too drunk and cause trouble, especially amongst young people from ages 12-16. In 2011, the rules on alcohol were relaxed with people only being banned from drinking in the carnival field before the procession as a health and safety measure. In 2014, the wheelbarrow and four legged events also had rules enforced to stop participants from drinking in line with the 2003 Licensing Act which states alcohol should not be consumed at speed. Even though some of the rules surrounding the evening have been relaxed, the organisers still wish to remind people that underage drinking is strictly prohibited and that alcohol is discouraged.

Committee member Dave Major said: “I have been part of the committee since the 1970s. It is very important to everyone and everyone looks forward to it. I would say that about 15,000 people come to watch the procession every year if not more. It is a lot of hard work, when one carnival finishes the organisation for the next one begins. Some people think it just happens but that is not the case, there is a lot of work behind the scenes.”

People driving to Pewsey to watch the procession are being warned to park in the official spaces which are to be marked out prior to the event.

Mr Wood said: “I would ask people to pay the £5 for the official parking spaces in the Carnival Field, Milton Road, the car park we have set up in Swan Meadow and the parking area on the Marlborough Road between the Wharf and the railway bridge. If people want to leave early then parking here will ensure they can get away and not disrupt the carnival.”

Onlookers will have the option to choose from a few key spots along the route so they can catch the best glimpse of the procession. Starting from the Carnival Field in Milton Road at 7.30pm, the floats will travel down the High Street before making their way down the Wilcott Road, through to Rawlings Road, passing through Slater Road and The Crescent before reaching the finish at Swan Road.

If spectators are also looking to wet their whistle whilst watching the carnival, then they have the choice of visiting The Royal Oak in North Street, Moonrakers and Chequers, both in the High Street, which all sit on the main route. Anyone wishing to watch from the High Street is warned to make sure they get there early as the road fills up quickly with people eager to get a good spot for the evening.