Aldershot’s Victoria Day brought a carnival atmosphere to the town centre on Saturday.
Victoria Day celebrates Aldershot’s links to Queen Victoria, who established the town as the home of the British Army, and it is always an incredibly special day for the town.
This year, the carnival parade was larger and more colourful than ever before with 1,000 people taking part in the spectacular ‘Carnival of the Animals’.
The parade included local school children, community groups, samba bands, dancers, army veterans and community organisations. Led as always by Aldershot's very own Queen Victoria, Betty Bryce who gave her royal wave to the crowds in a classic Buick. Best in Parade was awarded to the Aldershot Lions.
The event marked as a double celebration, as 2024 marks 50 years of Rushmoor Borough Council.
Throughout the day there was live music and entertainment including performances by the Kings Pond Shantymen, Jim Hammond, Saxooma and a Chinese lion dance and martial arts performance by Wutan Martial Art School to name just a few. Union Street was lined with stalls to browse, hosted by community organisations and local crafters. Wellesley Woodlands were presented with the award for the Best Stall. There were also creature encounters, dance workshops, circus skills, fun with the Bubbles Man and football fun with The Shots.
Jenny Atherton, cultural projects, and events manager at Rushmoor Borough Council said: “What an amazing day! Thank you to everyone who joined us – all the parade participants, stallholders, volunteers, and sponsors. We really could not do it without your support – thank you all.”
A project grant from Arts Council England, enabled the council to work with Shademakers UK to run a number of successful community and school carnival projects in the build up to the event, with local people wearing some of the spectacular animal costumes.
Victoria Day has been made possible thanks to sponsorship from the Arts Council England, Farnborough International, toob, Wellesley, Enterprise, Harlow Hall, West Heath Garage and nDreams.
Special thanks as always goes to Aldershot’s very own Queen Victoria, Betty Bryce and Herman Frost who organises the display of classic cars for the day.
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