By DAN WOODRUFF
Carnival organising committee member
TOMORROW, Saturday July 16, is Colchester Carnival, and it will be a day of colour and noise.

Colchester Round Table is very proud to be putting on this event and we hope you enjoy the festivities.

So why should you be interested in the carnival?

The carnival celebrates everything that is good about the vibrant cultural life of Colchester.

All aspects of the community will be represented in the procession and in the street festival in Castle Park and the town centre.

As organisers, this is our first one.

When three men sat in a pub and said: “How hard can it be?”, little did we know what it would take to put on such a massive event for the town. Luckily, we have had some amazing help from all sorts of people. This has ranged from businesses supporting us with their time, resources and money, to residents offering a few hours to give us ideas on how to make the event better.

This has really opened my eyes to what a fantastic community we have and how many different activities go on in our town.

The expected 700 participants have worked extremely hard to bring you an authentic mix of activities and acts, and we really feel there will be something for everyone, young and old.

The carnival is more than just a street procession. It is a way of bringing the community together.

We have carefully crafted the procession so it is more than a line of floats. Indeed, most of the entrants will be on foot showcasing what they do best.

Look out for dancers, singers, sports clubs, bands, charities, families, schools, businesses and arts organisations.

Please remember, when you enjoy the many performances in the park and town centre, all those involved have given their time for free, which is testament to the great support we have received.

Most of the performers you will see would normally be paid for their talents. The same goes for the locations where the events are being held.

On the whole, this has been provided to us at little or no cost, meaning we can hopefully raise more money for the good causes of Colchester.

We have insisted every entry should get into the spirit of the carnival and there really are some wonderful sights and sounds for you to experience.

The acts performing and the procession participants have all made considerable effort to bring the carnival into the modern day, so hopefully you should be amazed by what is on offer. Added to that, it is completely free to the public.

Colchester Round Table is a registered charity and all profits from the event will go into the carnival fund.

After the event, this money will be distributed to causes that benefit the people of Colchester.

We are not profiting from the event, and are keen to raise as much money as possible, so please give generously when you see the official buckets on the day.