Sunday 19 June 2016

Dorchester Carnival 2016




Credit must go to Jenny Webster, the organiser of the 2016 Dorchester Carnival. The event was a great reflection of the town's friendly atmosphere. 


If you missed it and want to see some of the happy moments then here is a link to the Dorchester Carnival website





Luckily it was dry for the event, and very well supported by the residents of the town. 

The weekend began with a musical event in the Borough Gardens, a free evening for residents called the Party In The Park.

Near to my home in Dorchester is the Fair Field car park, which accommodates a travelling fun fair on the same weekend.
This is very popular with many of the town's younger generation. Dorchester has a historical link with annual fairs.

Medieval Dorchester was busy market town. It had 3 weekly markets and 3 annual fairs, but in the Middle Ages fairs were like markets and did not have thrilling fairground rides, and loud booming music!  People would have come from all over Dorset to buy and sell at a Dorchester fair. 



Those who have read Thomas Hardy's 'Mayor of Casterbridge' ,will know how Michael Henchard visits a fair in the locality, gets drunk and sells his wife! If you have not read this excellent novel then I can recommend it. 


I listened to the fair being dismantled during last night, and by this morning the car park was returned to it's usual Sunday morning car boot sale. I will look forward to a more peaceful evening, but pleased that Dorchester residents have had the opportunity to enjoy themselves.