Thousands of people enjoyed the Bank Holiday sunshine to watch the 2024 Ilkley Carnival parade which had a theme of Mardi Gras this year.
Local schools – including for the first time three from outside of the town – play groups, organisations, performers and musicians created a celebratory carnival atmosphere as a vibrant display of costume, music and dance wowed crowds estimated to be over 15,000 lining the streets.
The energetic procession worked its way from Ilkley’s Memorial Gardens to the carnival showground on Denton Road as photographers, tv crews and onlookers caught every moment of the feel-good start to the town’s biggest one-day event of the year.
Linda Spinks, headteacher of Addingham Primary School, which joined the parade for the first time, said: “We had an absolutely brilliant day. The parade was so well organised it made it a not too stressful experience organising our team. We loved the atmosphere and the prize giving at the end was lovely. It was a fantastic experience for our children and school and I even ended up on the tv!”
Jane Elliott, chair at Moor Time, which provides fun respite for young people with additional needs, said everyone had a “grand time” at the event with their “Brazilian Samba” themed parade entry being a big hit. She added: “It's wonderful to give the young people the opportunity to be part of a community event that embraces all abilities. The carnival makes accessibility and inclusion a priority, so all our families enjoy the day. We're looking forward to next year already."
Committee chair Andrew Stacey said that while funds raised and footfall figures are still being assessed, the event surpassed all expectations in what has been a challenging year for the organisers.
“Thanks to the incredible people of our town, Ilkley Carnival just keeps on getting better and while raising funds for our local beneficiaries is vitally important to us, we also want to create an event that is part of the fibre of our community and which lives in the memories of the children and those involved and those who visit.
“As a small committee of volunteers we are so proud of how the carnival – despite all the challenges this year of increased costs and changes in legislation – is evolving and providing such an inclusive event for every corner of our community to engage with and enjoy.”
Winners of the Matt King Best in Parade Trophy were Ashlands Primary School for their Yorkshire Folklore and Fantasy Reborn display. Other entries included WTA Dance Academy with “Mardi Gras”, Askwith Primary with “Welcome to the Jungle”, Ben Rhydding Pre-School with “Carnival Birds”, Sacred Heart with “Masquerade on the Moors”, Addingham Primary with “Boomwhacker Bashers”, All Saints Primary with “World of Mardi Gras”, Moorfield Primary with “Samba”, Ben Rhydding Primary with “Yorkshire Mardi Gras”, Burley Oaks Primary with “Samba Dragons”, Westville house with “Mardi Gras Around the World”, , Ashlands Vets and Ilkley Pride.
Nicola Holmes, chair of Friends of Ashlands said the giant Rombalds created by the team for their folklore themed entry was made at zero cost and created using nearly 100% repurposed materials with only the paint, glue and cable ties being first uses. She added: “His gigantic smock was patchwork from old shirts that were too stained to be sold, his waistcoat from old trousers that were discarded from a local charity, his head and hands made from newspaper and glue. Our challenge of his massive body saw us looking to use cardboard carpet tubes, his rib cage used underfloor heating pipes that were too short to be of use again from a local builder and foam edging from kitchen work tops from another local company.”
Mayor of Ilkley Karl Milner added his praise for the event, saying: “The carnival brings the whole town together to celebrate what's great about today's Ilkley: creativity, good humour, diversity and a commitment to community. The event, like the costumes, gets bigger and more wonderfully outrageous every year. The organisers have the thanks of the entire town and we're looking forward to next year already.”
The parade also included marching air cadets from Ilkley’s 1224 Wharfedale Squadron, Ilkley Pride & Diversity, music from Punjabi Roots, Otley Brass Band, Leeds Pipe Band and a rousing lead from Town Cryer Isabel Ashman. It finished at East Holmes Field showground where entertainment included the bicycle stunt team Defying Gravity, the All Saints Church Craft Tent, fun dog show trade and charity stalls and the Ilkley Rocks stage featuring live local bands.
Ilkley MP Robbie Moore, who presented certificates to the parade entrants on stage with Mayor Karl Milner said: "It was absolutely brilliant to see so many vibrant costumes jam-packed full of colour, glitz and glam as the Mardi Gras takeover came to Ilkley for a fantastic day of celebration.
A huge thank you to the hardworking carnival committee and team of volunteers, Ilkley Carnival's brilliant local sponsors, Rombalds Radio and all those involved in helping to make this year's Carnival such a shining success. You have all done our town proud once again!"
Andrew added: “On behalf of the committee we would like to thank the incredible efforts of everyone involved and the unprecedented level of support from local businesses including our main sponsor Ilkley BID, Bradford Grammar School and SD Property Group. We really can’t wait to do it all again next year!”
Watch the video report from BBC Look North and re-live the whole 2024 Ilkley Carnival Parade on the Ilkley Carnival Facebook video below.