Twenty carnival courts, some coming hundreds of miles, will be taking part in Ramsgate carnival on Sunday, July 27.

There will be plenty of music to enjoy as the British Airways Pipe Band leads the procession around the town. Four other established local bands will also be taking part. They will be joined by Miss Ramsgate, Megan Duddy and her princesses Hannah Gisby and Chrissy Grindle with deputy queen Molly Walsh–Keaney and deputy princess Rebecca Hughes. They and all the other visiting courts will present themselves to the Mayor of Ramsgate Cllr Kay Dark at 2pm.

Judging the floats begins at 3pm before moving off from the Royal Esplanade at 4.30pm. It then makes its way along St Augustine’s Road, The Paragon, Royal Parade past the harbour, up the Madeira Walk along Wellington Crescent down Victoria Road, back along King Street, Queen Street, up West Cliff Road and back to the start.

If you want to get into the mood earlier on, there’s a funfair on Government Acre which has plenty of stalls and attractions for everyone to enjoy. A fun dog show starts from 10.30am welcoming pooches of all kinds.

Organiser Marion Pearce said: “This should be one of the best Ramsgate carnivals for some years. We will be joined by queens from Dorset, Nuneaton and Essex, as well as others nearer home. So far we have nearly 50 entries and look forward to more nearer the day.

“We’re pleased to see lots of youth groups and nursery schools joining in alongside others who have been involved for a long time, like the Royal British Legion.”

Entry to the carnival is free and people wishing to enter, whether a child in fancy dress, a local youth group or a group who wish to decorate their car and enter for the fun of it, can contact Mrs Pearce on 07798 677140 or simply turn up on the day.