A WEEK of festivities is planned in the run-up to the Penhill Carnival, which is set to bring colour and sound to the streets of the estate on Saturday, July 7.

Penhill Carnival, founded in 1976, was an annual community highlight for decades and the festival had grown into a week-long event when it came to a natural end in 1995.

Last July, hundreds turned out to enjoy the revived carnival procession as well as additional entertainment throughout the day.

It went down so well – and made a £637 profit – that this year’s planning group has decided to run a week of themed and additional activities in the run-up to the big day.

Ingrid Bernathova, Fair Share community worker at the charity CLIP, said: “The carnival week idea is to provide a snapshot of all the groups and clubs and sessions residents can choose from.

“There is something for different age groups and different interests.”

She added: “This year we are hoping we learned some lessons from last year, so we can make improvements, such as organisational improvements, and we definitely need more volunteers.

“We are hoping residents will have as great a day as they had last year.”

The carnival week will start on July 1, with a special service at St Peter’s Church, in Penhill Drive. The week will comprise the community activities which normally run at that time of year, but with carnival branding, such as “Carnival Zumba”.

In addition, there will be special activities such as a treasure hunt and a garden competition.

There will also be a Penhill Has Got Talent competition, where the royal family members will be elected to take part in the procession and perform on carnival day.

Live bands are also planned for Friday, July 6 at the John Moulton Hall, in Penhill Drive.

On the carnival day itself, groups from across Swindon will join Penhill residents and the Swindon Majorettes on a procession around Penhill Drive.

There will also be a school fete at Swindon Academy, in Alton Close, and a showcase of local groups, dance and sports clubs, and after-school activities, at St Peter’s Church, in Penhill Drive, plus further entertainment at the John Moulton Hall.

The planning group is also seeking people to volunteer in roles such as stewarding, cooking, cleaning, and staff management.

Volunteer Glynis Hales, part of the planning group, which has been working since November to plan the event, called on residents to give a helping hand at the event.

She said: “It’s so that we have another successful carnival really, and obviously a few people cannot do everything.

“And it’s a fun day. They will be involved in the whole thing and they will have a good time.”

Anyone interested can call CLIP on 01793 723687.