SCHOOLCHILDREN dressed as dogs, young karate students and Grease characters were just a handful of the personalities on the floats that snaked their way through Braintree for its 51st carnival.
Floats trundled from Lakes Road via the High Street to Meadowside on Saturday – and hundreds of people cheered them on their way before enjoying the attractions and rides at the field in Coldnailhurst Avenue.
"It was fantastic, I think there was more people than last year, at one point I couldn't move through the crowd because there was so many people," said organiser Martin Green, 33, of Perryfields, Braintree, and the chairman of the carnival committee.
"The weather was great as well, I think the early storm meant people didn't go off to the coast in the morning, so when it was sunny in the afternoon they came to the carnival.
People crowded in amongst the Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, helter-skelter, inflatable fun house, side shows and food stalls to enjoy the atmosphere, cacophony of noise and sunshine.
There was also an arena with acts including the Essex Caledonian pipe band, kung-fu dancing, 1960s music and the Jez Avery Stunt Show, featuring a dirt-bike doing wheelies.
There were traditional stalls, coconut shies and teddy bear stalls. Outside of the main enclosure, the Benson School of Motoring were displaying a red Jaguar E-Type, while a hireable fire engine was keeping children entertained.
Vicky Dudman, 34, from Bocking was standing by a colourful Ferris wheel waiting for her six-year-old daughter Lucy.
"It has been really good – I have not been for years and years, but it's good to remember memories of when I was younger," she said.
"I really liked the animal float with kids dressed up as dogs – it just looked like they had done a lot of effort for it."
When asked what her daughter's favourite bit of the day had been, she said the "fun house", complete with an inflatable giraffe, elephant and zebra on the side.
Over 40 floats made up the procession – and Paula Hood, 46, was on the float for Yong Gi Do martial arts karate.
"It was fun," she said. "Our theme was Grease and we all dressed up like pink ladies. The little ones had their jackets and jeans. We had pom poms and were shaking them all around. We had to sit on there with the children. People were throwing money. It was a cracking day."
Another float participant was nine-year-old Aaliyah Williams, who was on the float for Xpect Gym.
"We won first prize for presentation," she said. "We chucked out sweets when we saw the children – it was fun. I'm going to do it again next year."
Her dad Russell, 30, of Portersfield in the town, said: "We have come to it every year for the last 12 years. There's more people there this year – it's a once-a-year thing so everyone comes here."
Lewis Henson and Kerry Swallow, both 25 and living in Grenville Road, were attending the carnival for the first time.
"It's better than the Bocking one," said Lewis. "I think the Bocking one is too crowded in a small space, it's more like a car boot sale."
Money donated throughout the day and raised through the many stalls went towards BENS Homeless Shelter, Essex Dementia Care, the Archer Community Centre and Cancer Research UK.
Mr Green added: "The carnival is one of those traditions that's become a big part of people's year – like Christmas.
"People come to the carnival, then have a barbeque and then come back in the afternoon.
"It's great that the people of Braintree have kept the tradition of the carnival alive. There's not many left and it's a brilliant way to meet up with neighbours and have a real community event."
