With a full line-up of events across Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th June, Stone Carnival weekend is set to bring colour, community and plenty of fun to Westbridge Park.
From the traditional Saturday parade to Sunday’s family-friendly dog derby and fun dog show, the weekend marks the grand finale of a week of carnival activities across the town.
Saturday highlights – parade, arena events and live music
Saturday begins with the arrival of the carnival parade, expected at Westbridge Park around 12pm, followed by a packed afternoon of entertainment and music. Don’t forget that Warwick’s Funfair is also set up on the park!
The arena will be home to performances, demos and games throughout the day:
- 12:00 – Float presentation and prizes
- 1:15 – Line dancing to keep the energy going
- 2:00 – Police dog demonstration with Sonic from Staffordshire Police
- 2:45 – Penalty shoot-out, organised by Stone Old Alleynians
- 3:30 – Tug of war, sponsored by Ambition Fitness
- 4:20 – Rooftops Studios performance
On the main stage, two local favourites will keep the music going into the evening:
- 5:00 – The Kilns Band
- 6:30 – Citizen Stone
The Saturday festivities will wind down at 8:00pm, giving plenty of time to enjoy the atmosphere, food and drink, and performances throughout the park.
Plenty to see and do around the park
In addition to the arena schedule, visitors can expect a wide variety of stalls, activities and refreshments throughout the day, including:
- Charity stalls and independent traders
- School-led activities from Alleynes Academy and Christ Church Middle School
- A selection of food vendors
- Lymestone Brewery bar and Ten Green Bottles
- Lawton Bowman Archery – have-a-go archery for £1 (six arrows) on the lower meadow
Sunday – Family Fun Day with dog shows and community activities
Sunday 8th June turns the focus to family fun, starting with the Dog Derby and Steeple Chase. Registration opens at 10:00am and the races begin at 11:00am, featuring a less-than-2km route that ends with the traditional water jump.
The arena will then host a full afternoon of dog show classes, with prizes provided by local favourites Purely Dogs and James Du Pavey:
- 12:45 – Waggiest tail
- 1:00 – Prettiest puppy
- 1:15 – Best veteran
- 1:30 – Best rescue
- 1:45 – Best trick
- 2:00 – Best dressed
- 2:15 – The people’s choice
Following the dog show, the arena schedule continues:
- 2:40 – Stafford Morris dancers
- 3:15 – Rooftops Studios
- 4:00 – Stafford Morris dancers (second performance)
Sunday’s events will finish by 5:00pm.
Activities for all ages across the park
Sunday also features a wide range of family-friendly activities spread across the site:
- Kevin’s Community Circus with circus skills and hands-on fun
- Bouncy castle and inflatable slide
- Family Zone Tent, offering yoga, mindful colouring, reading corners and more
- Enterprise stalls supporting Stone Minds Matter, a local schools partnership focused on mental health and transitions
- Bear Hunt trail through the woodland play area – free to enter, with a small prize for every child who completes it
- 60 free packed lunches, kindly donated by Stone Rotary Club and prepared by Little Dots Kids (first come, first served)
- Alpaca walking on the lower meadow – £3 per walk
A weekend for the whole town
Whether you’re watching the parade, cheering on the tug of war, entering your dog in the arena or enjoying a pint and some live music, Stone Carnival weekend promises something for everyone.
Organisers are encouraging residents and visitors alike to come down, support local groups and businesses, and enjoy the best of Stone’s community spirit in action.
A massive thanks to the new look carnival team who have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of this year’s event.
For more details, check out the Stone Carnival website and social media.
