THOUSANDS of people are expected to turn out for this weekend’s Thornbury Carnival.

The annual event is set to take over most of the town on Saturday with a variety of performances, stalls and food on offer, as well as the popular parade.

Turnout for the biggest carnival in the town to date is expected to be at a record high, with more than 12,000 people expected to attend.

This year sees the festival, which predominantly takes place on the Mundy Playing Fields, offer three stages for entertainment as well as two other performance areas.

Among the many performers are the headlining tribute act Abba’s Angels, the Welsh Horse Yeomanry First World War re-enactors and the Tigers Junior Motorcycle display team.

Surrounding the stages are the fun fair, inflatables and more than 150 stalls from businesses, charities and other groups all from the nearby area, as well as a range of foods from the classic hog roast, to Mexican cuisine as well as the quintessential summer ice cream.

Festivities are set to start at 10.30am with the parade, which is organised by the Thornbury Lions, starting along Park Road near the Castle School, before heading all the way up Castle Street and the High Street.

As well as a vast number of walkers from different community groups around the town, the parade will feature 11 bands and more than 70 old military vehicles and classic cars.

David Goldring, the carnival’s organiser, said: “The parade is one of the most impressive parts of the whole carnival, and a great way to kick things off.

“If you want a good seat, it would be better to arrive before 10am so you can watch the whole show.

“I hope the event is to the betterment for the whole of Thornbury, from the visitors and performers, to the local businesses and groups.”

“This is the biggest carnival we have done yet, with more stalls and stages than before, so we hope there will be just as impressive a turnout.”

Referring to the worry over a poor weather forecast, Mr Goldring remained in good spirits and said they planned to deliver a great show whatever the weather.

He said: “We had a very rainy year in 2014, but the showers stopped just as the parade was about to start and the clouds parted for some fantastic sunshine. It was almost biblical.

“If it rains this year, we will carry on, enjoy it and just get wet.”