Despite the bad weather forecast predicted at the beginning of the week, the sun shone on Ashington Festival on Saturday attracting thousands of people to come along and join in with the fun day.
In the arena was the stunning ‘Essex Dog Team’ who shared the bill with ‘The Mad Team’ of stunt cyclists. And back by popular demand was ‘Tom Foolery’ Ashington’s favorite children’s entertainer kindly sponsored by Saxon Weald and ‘The Medina Marching Band’ from the Isle of Wight who played in the arena as well as impressing everyone in the Carnival.
During the evening the crowd was entertained by Danny Oliver aka Michael Jackson, who actually performed for the great man himself twice! Kindly sponsored by Cubitt & West, Ashington who was then followed by ’Creative Covers Band’ who provided the crowd with well- known hits from throughout the decades.
Later there was a Disco from ‘Retrospect Event Sound’. One for the children and one for the adults at the end of the evening. And a beautiful, fantastic Firework display at 10pm which everyone loved.
On the showground was Harris Brothers Funfair, the Arun Vet Group fun dog show, car boot sale, flower show, classic car show, craft, charity and animal stalls and sideshows, with food outlets included Thai, Caribbean, pizzas, jacket potatoes, crepes, burgers, hot dogs, doughnuts, slush ice and ice cream, with also a licensed bar and Pimm’s tent.
The Carnival procession paraded through the village with the Ashington Carnival banner carried by Kevin Read and John Pettitt dressed as cowboys on comical horses.
Followed by Ashington’s Carnival Princess 2019 Madalyn Lee aged 10 and her two Attendants Vivi Evans aged 7 and Marcelo Donno aged 6, Madalyn also had two Pageboys Ryan Shoosmith aged 8 and Jimmy Daniel age 7. In the carnival parade was some excellent floats and walking groups from different clubs and families of the village all made up to a high standard. As well as the ‘Medina Marching Band’ there was the ‘Sussex Steel Band’ and the ‘Rhythm & Sole Dance’ group entertaining the crowds and even a stilt walker.
The winners of the Carnival Floats were:
1st Chanctonbury Playschool as ‘Noah’s Ark’.
2nd Ashington Minibus & friends as ‘The Calendar Girls’.
3rd Bootcamp Beauties as ‘Fit as Funk’.
And the winners of the Carnival Walking Groups were:
1st The McGrath family & friends as ‘Doing the Moon Walk’.
2nd Ashington Children’s Nursery as ‘Underwater’.
3rd Ashington Scout Group as ‘Bear Grylls Water Sports Adventure’.
And the overall winners of both groups were:
1st Chanctonbury Playschool as ‘Noah’s Ark’.
2nd Ashington Minibus & friends as ‘The Calendar Girls’.
3rd Bootcamp Beauties as ‘Fit as Funk’.
The day had a fantastic, friendly atmosphere for all age groups and a day with community spirit which everyone commented on.
The Ashington Festival Committee would like to thank all the sponsors and the helpers on the day who help to make it such a great success.
We look forward in seeing you all at the Festival next year for what we hope will be a fantastic day on Saturday 15th August 2020.
