By Emily Parsons

Last updated at 11:49, Monday, 11 June 2012

Dancing crocodiles, silly-string firing ghosts and miniature pirates lit up Aspatria for the annual gala day.

The Aspatria School of Rock

Seven floats, three bands and a gaggle of wonderfully dressed walkers marched almost 1.5 miles from one end of the town to the other on Saturday.

A cacophony of noise including Mambo No. 5, by Lou Bega, and Down Under, by Men at Work, mingled with the sounds of Penrith Brass Band, the drum group Boomdang and the Bay Beat salsa band.

Attendance at the start of the route was thin as the rain hammered those brave enough to emerge from their houses, but the sun broke through halfway along the route drawing out the crowds.

Five-year-old Jessica Wright, from Aspatria, sat beside the roadside on a little stool, huddled under an umbrella to cheer the passing the floats.

Her mum, Phillipa Washington, said: “We’ve only lived in Aspatria for two years and my little girl loves to come out and watch. It’s wonderful how everyone comes out, even in the rain.”

Youngsters from the Little Rascals play group took part in the procession for only the second time, donning spotted handkerchiefs and moustaches to form Jake and the Little Rascal Pirates. Parent Andrea Lockhart said: “It’s something for the kids and gets them involved – and they all love pirates!”

Fellow parent Kirsty Holliday added: “It’s something they will always remember, and it is good to be part of it.”

As well as the relative newcomers, the parade was filled with regulars. The Luau Party float was comprised of family and friends from Aspatria who have never missed a carnival.

Jeanette Reay said: “We do something different every year. This year we chose a Hawaiian theme because we wanted to make it happy and jolly and for everyone just to enjoy a party. We are not in it to win it; we’re in it to have a good time.”

However, she admitted it was a shame there were not more participants. Organiser Wendy Campbell, who was dressed as Fairy Nuff, said you could always count on the residents of Aspatria to support the carnival, adding: “It’s just the weather you can’t rely on.”

More photos in today's News & Star and in The Cumberland News on Friday

First published at 11:27, Monday, 11 June 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk