Procession
The Carnival procession has, in recent years, involved over 500 hundred adults and children dressing up and parading through the centre of the village. The procession starts at Golf Road off Bingham Road at 1.00pm and conculdes at the Grange at around 1.30pm.
Procession entrants are required to register their entry with the Carnival Working Group and complete a risk assessment form in advance of the event.
There are 5 procession catgeories that are judged by our trio of procession judges which changes every year. This year, our procession was judged by Vicky White (Bunny C.of.E, formerly deputy at RoT Infants), Pam Clark (formerly at RoT Infants), and Diane Goodband (Radcliffe-on-Trent Co-op).
Currently, the only non-competitive entry for the procession is our bands. They provide the music to guide our procession through the village.
Nottingham 22nd Boys Brigade Marching Band, 2010
Nottingham 22nd Boys Brigade Marching Band, 2016
United Schools Samba Band, 2016
United Schools Samba Band, 2023
Stalls
Our stall holders are essential to the Carnival day, running games, activities, and tombolas, selling their wares, providing food and drink, or publicising their organisation.
Stall holders are required to register their entry with the Carnival Working Group and complete a risk assessment form in advance of the event.
There is a small pitch fee for holding a stall at the Carnival, but any money you make is yours to keep. A donation back into the community is always welcomed. As a Charity Carnival, we don't accept stalls that are solely for-profit.
All stall holders are encouraged to decorate their stall in accordance to the Carnival theme and dress up with the chance to win our Best Dressed Stall competition (Peter Whitehead Trophy). This competition is judged by the mayoral party; this year comprised of the Councillor Andy Brown (Mayor of Rushcliffe) and his wife Sylvia, and Councillor Anne McLeod (Chair of Radcliffe Parish Council).
This competition is named after the late Peter Whitehead, a dedicated member of the Radcliffe Gardening Club.
Radcliffe Surgery Forum, 2018
Radcliffe Gardening Club, 2023
Radcliffe-on-Trent Pre-School Playgroup, 2024
Ukrainian Group, 2024
Local Businesses
Our local businesses can compete in two categories, the Best Dressed Shop Window and the Best Carnival display (Claire Dodds Trophy). These entries get the village into the Carnival spirit in the run-up to the Carnival, are judged in the week before the event takes place by members of the Carnival Working Group.
There is no official registration process for these competitions, though feel free to let the CWG know that you're ready to be judged, especially if it's your first year participating!
Radcliffe-on-Trent Junior School
ROTJS contribute greatly to the Radcliffe Carnival: many of their students participate in our procession, perform in the arena, and their Pupil Council comes up with our theme. Students at the Junior School can also enter our Poster Competition. The winning Carnival poster and the runner-up will feature on our programme and on posters throughout the village.
Aiden, 2019
Mia, 2022
Ruby, 2024
Carnival Hero
Carnival Hero is the most coveted Carnival competition. Each year, the CWG presents this award to a person who has contributed greatly to the village of Radcliffe-on-Trent and the Radcliffe Carnival, often for a significant number of years. It is our way of showing our appreciation to the people who give up their own time to support their community and keep our local traditions alive.
If you have a suggestion for Carnival Hero 2025, be sure to let the Carnival Working group know!
Bob Jones (accepted by Chris Bonello), 2023
Paul Lindsey, 2024