ANDOVER Carnival is back on Sunday and this year sees the return of floats with The Magic of The Musicals theme. The day will start with a Fun Day at Vigo Recreation Ground at 1pm till 9pm. Corporal Tucker from The Royal Welsh will be officially opening the Carnival at 1pm at Vigo Recreation Ground.

He will then go on to judge the float and walking entries along with the other judges, Cllr Ian Hibberd and his wife, Teresa, and Deputy Mayor of Test Valley, Zilliah Brookes.

On the main stage will be the finalists and winner from It’s A Showstopper Talent Competition, The Long Overdue Theatre School, local bands Funkline and Power Funk Trio and the band, Basingstoke Concert Big Band, will also be keeping toes tapping throughout the afternoon.

Later on the stage Andover Sound presents The Wanted, the new upcoming boy band from London, who are set to be one of the most exciting new pop sensations of 2010.

They will be singing their debut single, All Time Low. Their performance director is X Factor’s choreographer Brian Friedman, so they are sure to give a great dance routine from the guys as well.

To keep the kids happy there will be an inflatable helter-skelter and slides, face painting and traditional fete stalls plus The Table Top Circus and The Dragons of Wye-etn. To keep the adults happy there will be a beer and Pimms tent, trade stalls and food vans and a strawberries and cream stall. There is also a tombola and a raffle to win a balloon flight sponsored by Toucan Travel.

The Carnival is also joining in with The Big Lunch this year, more details can be found on their website www.thebiglunch.com. The Float Procession starts at 4pm from Switch International’s yard in Mylen Road. It will travel down Weyhill Road to Beechhurst where the Walking entrants join the procession. Then down into Bridge Street, up Eastern Avenue to Vigo Recreation Ground.

Make sure you bring plenty of change to put onto the Collection Floats and into the buckets – the money raised this year will go this year to Help for Heroes, Andover Citizens Advice Bureau, Andover Mencap and Kyle’s Voice. The lorries have been sponsored by Switch International and Transplus and the Carnival committee would like to thank them and their drivers who are giving their time for free to help the Carnival.

Thank you also to Stagecoach buses who are putting on a free bus shuttle to and from Vigo Recreation Ground – more details on the Carnival Website www.andovercarnival.org and on the Control Bus in the Park on the day of the Carnival.

Float entries for 2010 The Lights Theatre - The Wizard of Oz Testway Housing - Cats Andover Neighbourcare - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Andover Mencap - Grease Andover 22nd Scout Group - Joseph & Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat Mitutoyo - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Fusion Youth Group - Glee Andover Young Carers - Oliver Forget-Me-Not Flowers -The Wizard of Oz Anton Junior School - Cats Wilkinsons - Mamma Mia Winton School - Willie Wonka & The Chocolate Factory 23rd Golden Jubilee Scouts - Oliver Shooters F.C. - We Will Rock You The Chantry Centre - Shrek Pure Design Hair & Beauty - The Little Mermaid The Boaz Project - Jungle Book"

Stagecoach Buses - Summer Holiday Andover Childminders (Kyle's Voice) - Mary Poppins Also The Andover Prince & Princess will be having a float (but they are not entrants) Walking Entries 7th Andover Brownies – Under the Sea 17th Andover (Balksbury) Brownies – Cats Beccy Lucas – The Lion King Also in the walking procession will be The Romsey Old Cadets Marching Band and Casa de Samba.

Programme of Events: 1pm Fun Day officially opened by Corporal Tucker of the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh 1.15pm Entertainment starts on stage 2.45pm Judging of Float entries at Switch’s yard 3.30pm Judging of Walking entries at Beech Hurst 4pm Floats leave Switch’s yard 4.30 pm Walkers join the procession from Beech Hurst. 5.15 pm Procession arrives in Bridge Street 6pm Procession arrives at Vigo Recreation Ground 7.15pm Andover Sound presents “The Wanted”

7.30pm Balloon Flight Raffle drawn 9pm Events finish **Timings are approximate and may be subject to change** Put the date in your diary and make this the best Carnival Andover has seen!

Thank you to all the sponsors without whom the Carnival would not have taken place.

Thank you to the following local sponsors:

Eye 4 Beauty The Co-operative  Andover AdvertiserAndover Sound Asda The Lights Testway Housing The Chantry Centre Switch Transplus The Copper Kettle Jools UK Ltd Southgate Motors Stan’s Pet NeedsThe Quality Hotel mooch Toucan Travel Stagecoach BusesBroadway Garage The White Hart Hotel Newbury Building Society Mail Boxes EtcPhil Evans Photography  Blue Onion Shahi Raj Venture SecurityS J Maddocks Independent Funeral Directors  TVBC Lee FiltersAntonino HairdressersThe Globe GalleriesLadbrokesShoe Care Lucy’s Kitchen  The Pie Shop Britax SwattonsDolland & Aitcheson A Cut Above HairdressingPerks CateringBelle’s BeautyJason Cousins HairdressingDavid Mellor JewellersAbbotts KitchensForget-Me-Not Flowers Turners Butchers C Blake & Sons LtdVission Bridal Boutique Intense Marquees and NightclubUtopia Design Ltd Parkers Cakes and Chocolates Rembrunell Bridal Wear Kenyons Fruit & VegetablesAndover Garden CentreAll Aces UK Sainsburys North The Range Wall 2 Wall Carpets Bens LimosAndover Framing  Hampshire Auctions Ace Framing & Art GalleryUK Wedding VeilsAndover Patio Centre  TwiningsPure DesignSq Foot Storage Cherished China York Associates DelicioReflections Hypnotherapy Woodstock Plumbing & HeatingFlooring & CeramicsThe Piston Broke Entertainment BarGrape ExpectationsToo Fast Too Filling CaféElmwood Joinery Roland SecurityThe Goa BaltiTucker JoineryWilson’s Deli Heavenly SweetsThe Fireplace WarehouseThe Hawk ConservancyCosy HomesThe Leckford Estate Choices Hire Services Andover Blinds & The Curtain Gallery Waitrose Barnikels InternationalAndover Printing Company Ltd Just Cutz The Art of Venus The George Finkley Down Farm.

And a big Thank You to all the committee members and helpers for making it happen this year Andover Carnival 2010 Free Shuttle Bus Provided by Stagecoach in Hampshire. All buses will load/unload passengers to the rear of Vigo park near the junction of Vigo Road/Recreation Road. Timetable is printed in today's Andover Advertiser on Page 7.