Campaign group started to bring back Portland Carnival
It could make a return in 2022
Portland Carnival could be making a comeback after an absence of decades.
Online interest peaked this week after locals shared pictures of past festivals on social media.
Now a Facebook group wants to bring the event back next year in the summer.
The group already has nearly 200 members.
Gemma Spearing is behind the idea.
She said:
“I remember sitting on the side of the road, with my little flag, putting my 2p’s on the floats. It was just amazing.
“I always thought how brilliant it was to see the community coming together and I think that’s something that has been lost a little bit, but if it can be brought back, wouldn’t that be a fantastic thing – especially for the people who were involved in it back then?”
The event last ran in the 1990’s.
Gemma says she’s aiming to bring Portland Carnival back for summer 2022, restrictions allowing.
First she’ll need to battle the red tape, she says, and then tackle financing the festival:
“My next step is going to be fighting the red tape. If I get permission, then I’m off and running.
“It might go quiet for a few weeks because that’ll be me beavering away in the background… but I’m determined. I want to get this going”.