Plan to host first Halesowen Carnival in 20 years gathers pace
An appeal has been launched for fundraisers to help bring in vital cash to boost plans for a revived carnival taking place next summer.
Momentum is gathering pace behind the project to host the first Halesowen Carnival in more than 20 years.
Organisers have already set a date, July 4 next year, for the event which was a highlight in the calender for thousands in its heyday.
Volunteers have formed a committee to run the carnival drawing on experience from people helping with health and safety and events management.
Early plans for the make-up of the festival are beginning to take shape including the revival of the once well known parade.
The parade accompanied the festival over the years and organisers say it is a crucial part of the returning the event to its glory days.
Committee chairman Simon Walker says the group are now appealing for help with funding the event which will take place in Huntingtree Park.
Numerous ideas for fundraising have been put to the committee in a bid to bring in money to stage the event.
But there are also fun activities planned to help families get involved in the preparations.
These include the setting up of an alphabet challenge where families have to solve clues around Halesowen which will charge people £2 to enter.
People are asked to search for Halesowen Carnival 2015 on Facebook for details.
Mr Walker said: "We just want to get everyone involved in the day itself. We are just going through the details of funding now so we would be grateful for any help.
"Things can be up in the air the first time you try to do something like this for so long as it seems so out of the blue.
"But things are coming together now."
It would be the first time that a carnival and street parade had taken place in the town since 1986.
Campaigners want to link in with the Black Country Day festival.
In a nod to its history, organisers this week also pledged to hold the event in honour of well known Black Country comic Tommy Mundon.
The much loved stand up died earlier this year aged 80 after a battle against Parkinson's Disease.
Mr Walker plans to invite Mr Mundon's family to the revived carnival which will take place at Huntingtree Park.
