TICKETS for the long-awaited Thornbury Carnival have gone on sale and plans are set to include a helicopter flyover from the Great Air Ambulance Charity.

Organisers say plans for the event that is to return in July after being previously cancelled due to the pandemic are coming together well.

The two-day festival that kicks off with‘Swing in the Park’ on Friday, July 1 followed by the Thornbury Carnival ‘Main Event’ on Saturday will showcase a number of tribute acts including Abba, The Spice Girls, George Michael and Queen, and organisers say the Community Stage line-up is also taking shape, thanks to the expert guidance of Elly McDonald, Director of Northavon Youth Theatre Company. 

Liam Williams, Chair of Thornbury Carnival Committee, said: “The Committee is working really hard to pull together the final details for this year’s event - there’s so much going on at the moment, it’s really difficult to know where to start!”

Liam said he was delighted to announce that the Carnival’s nominated charity for 2022 is the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC), and that members of GWAAC will be attending the event collecting donations to support their vital work. 

As well as teaching open air CPR sessions, the committee is hopeful that the GWAAC helicopter will be able to do a fly by over the Mundy Playing Fields at some point during the day.

Organisers also confirmed they have teamed up with the Western Region British Balloon & Airship Club and are hoping to launch 6-10 balloons from the field adjacent to Mundy Playing Fields at around 6pm on the Friday evening. 
Elly added “We are so pleased that the Carnival Committee have included us into their event. 

"We knew there had been challenges in recent years but wanted to offer a solution. We got together with the local businessman, Tom Grey, from Big Stage Hire and Loud Hire who provided a stage and sound system. Giving NAPA, TMTG and other local performers the opportunity to be on stage in front of their family, friends and community is absolutely fabulous!”

‘Early Bird’ tickets will be available to buy online at a reduced price until 48 hours before each event go to thornburycarnival.co.uk/tickets.