BUCKETS and spades are at the ready as preparations for this year’s beach party theme Shirley Carnival get underway.
The annual Shirley Lions-organised event will be descending on Shirley Park on Saturday, July 7.
The Lions are appealing for businesses across the borough to lend them a helping hand with sponsorship to make the town’s annual carnival bigger and better than ever.
Carnival chairman, Sophie Lees said: “Shirley Lions have been organising Shirley Carnival for over 35 years and unfortunately the costs incurred in staging the event get greater and greater each year.
“Without the help of local businesses we simply could not run the event”
“There are several opportunities to promote your business through the Carnival, such as an advert in the programme, sponsoring the stalls or sponsoring one of the arena events booked to appear on the big day.”
Organisers are promising a steel band, dancers, a choir and a surfboard competition as well as the usual attractions for the annual festivities.
The Lions are also now accepting applications for stall holders, anyone who wants to promote a charity or business or have a stall.
For more on how to become a sponsor or to book a Carnival stall, contact Lion Jeremy on 0845 833 9547 or visit www.shirleylions.co.uk
