How you can still enjoy this year's Harborough Carnival - despite it being called off amid the Covid-19 pandemic

Harborough Carnival showground in 2019. PICTURE: ANDREW CARPENTER

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The event’s 12-strong organising team is pulling out all the stops to stage a special all singing, all dancing version of the carnival on Facebook instead

This year’s Market Harborough Carnival has been called off amid the Covid-19 crisis – but you’ll still be able to enjoy it to the max online.

The town’s annual, multi-coloured street spectacular was due to go ahead on Saturday June 13.

The much-anticipated parade of floats and stalls is being cancelled for the second year running after it was torpedoed by torrential rain last year.

But the event’s 12-strong organising team is pulling out all the stops to stage a special all singing, all dancing version of the carnival on Facebook instead.

Paul Milligan, chair of the carnival’s committee, said: “It’s a real shame that we cannot put our usual brilliant show on the road in Market Harborough this summer because of the coronavirus lockdown.

“We’d love to but it’s just impossible due to social distancing and all the other restrictions in place.

“So we have got our heads together and we’re going to create a fabulous remote carnival instead!”

He’s encouraging everyone to get involved and inter-act online from 9am onwards.

“Log on to our Market Harborough Carnival Facebook page and the world will be your oyster.

“You’ll be able to sit back and watch it on your phone, laptop or smart TV – no matter what the weather,” smiled Paul, who lives on Harborough’s Southern Estate.

“First up will be a virtual 5k run.

“You can go out and knock out the run between 9am and 12midday.

“Submit your entries and times to us.

“And we’ll randomly pull out a few winners and have a few T-shirts to give away.

“The town’s More Fitness gym will be doing an action-packed 30-minute video on getting and keeping fit, we’ll have yoga and cooking demonstrations on top.

“Duncan Murray, who’s a genuine larger than life Harborough character, will be giving drinks masterclasses for both adults and kids.

“That promises to be a whole load of fun.

“There will also be a coffee masterclass from Craig of Jute Coffee.

“Hfm radio will be going on live on air for us, playing people’s top requests, in the early afternoon.

“We also hope to have great local bands as well as dancing along with an online quiz lasting until early evening.

“So all in all it’s gearing up to be an absolutely fantastic day to remember and we cannot wait to get it on.”

You can find out more about Market Harborough Carnival by visiting their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/marketharboroughcarnival/