With less than a month to go until the annual Charivari carnival parades through town, organisers are appealing for financial donations.

Art company Strange Cargo has been putting on the popular and colourful carnival for 20 years.

A sum of £3,000 is required to make this year’s the biggest event ever, to mark its big birthday.

Artistic director Brigitte Orasinski said: “We have never appealed for donations before.

“It is a landmark for us to get to 20 years and we wanted to make this year’s carnival as spectacular as possible.

“If we can raise a bit more money we will be able to get a headline band booked. “

A statement on the company’s website said: “If everyone who has joined in over the years can make a small contribution it would be brilliant.

“We promise to deliver an amazing event and with your support we will be able to do this.”

Some 11,000 people have helped with its running over the two decades.

This year 24 schools are preparing for it by making costumes, many of them getting creative in Strange Cargo’s new base in
Geraldine Road, Cheriton.

The firm used to be in the Old High Street since 1995, buying the Cheriton premises in 2002.

From then it used to operate from the two locations but last year decided to fully move out of the town centre.

School teachers and artists are also having separate lessons in the studio on how to create
carnival attire so that the skill can be shared among future participants.

This year it will be taking to the streets on Saturday, July 9.

The procession will start at 2pm from The Stade in Folkestone, up the Old High Street, through Sandgate Road precinct, to the Leas footpath at West Terrace to assemble at the finale site at The Leas Bandstand. It will arrive at about 3.15pm.

To donate, click here.