A DALE village’s traditional carnival will move to a new venue this year and will have a new name to boot.
For more than 20 years, Eggleston Carnival has been held on the village green. This year, on Saturday, June 15, activities will take place in a field next to The Moorcock Inn, to accommodate more crowd-pleasing fun sporting attractions, such as sheep racing.
Elaine Lockyer, joint secretary of the organising committee, said the idea of hosting “lamb national” races came after seeing Young Farmers put on a display at Eggleston Show.
“We wanted to do something that attracts more people and it was a really popular, fun event at Eggleston last year,” she said.
“We can’t have livestock on the village green and so we looked at alternative locations.”
Barnard Castle Young Farmers will be organising the fun races at the event, which will know be known as Eggleston Gala.
David Hutchinson, committee chairman added: “We just felt the carnival had run its course on the village green with the Three Tuns closing, and we needed to approach it from a different angle. The idea is to provide a family-orientated fun day out.
“We are thrashing out a programme for the event now and there are a whole lot of unknowns. We don’t know if it will attract a 100 people or 1,000, but it is sure to be a lot of fun.
“The great thing about the sheep racing is children will be able to bring along their teddy bears and they can act as jockeys for races.”
In addition to the sheep races the gala will feature children’s races, ferret racing and a pet show.
Barnard Castle Band will be performing throughout the event and there will be a bouncy castle and juggler. A marquee will provide cover for craft stalls which will be on display with a variety of traditional stalls such as hook-a-duck and skittles, cake stall, raffle and tombola and the Moorcock will be organising catering for the event.
Before the gala in June, committee members have been organising a variety of fundraising events with two scheduled for the spring.
First up is a spring craft fair on Saturday, April 6, at the village hall between 1pm and 4pm. Entry to the fair is £1 and includes tea, coffee and biscuits. Tables are available for £10.
The second fundraising event is a jumble sale on April 27 between 1pm and 4pm at the village hall. Entry will be £1 and includes tea and biscuits.
Money raised will go towards community events and the provision and maintenance of the village’s Christmas lights.
Anyone who would like to hire a table at the craft fair or gala should contact Mrs Lockyer on 07901 736386.
Anyone with jumble to donate can bring it to the village hall between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on Friday, April 26 or in advance to 2 Gordon Bank or 9 Church Bank, Eggleston.
