PEOPLE are excited to see the return of a popular carnival in Worcester on Saturday (July 2).

Organisers hope to welcome about 9,000 visitors at this year's Worcester Carnival after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. 

The carnival's theme this year is 'celebration' and people are being encouraged to celebrate the city of Worcester and the people who live here.

Visitors can also watch the traditional parade that starts at 3pm and follows a 1.7-mile route starting at Pitchcroft. 

Worcester News: Worcester Carnival is backWorcester Carnival is back

The parade will go through Castle Street, Foregate Street, the Cross, High Street, Pump Street, City Walls Road, College Street, Deansway, Bridge Street, North Parade and Croft Road. 

READ MORE: Worcester Carnival Queen named

Worcester News: Worcester carnival Worcester carnival

And will return to the Carnival Villiage at Pitchcroft at an estimated time of 5pm.

During the parade, volunteers will be collecting for the carnival’s charity partners - the Worcester Warriors Community Foundation, Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust and the Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA). 

Carnival goers will be able to enjoy live performances, a children’s fair, a climbing wall, inflatables, food and craft stalls and several sporting activities including the ever-popular football tournament.

People will also be able to enjoy fairground rides, inflatables, market stalls with local charities, crafts, food and drink.

Worcester News: Melanie EastwoodMelanie Eastwood

This year's carnival queen will be crowned at 12.30pm by the Mayor of Worcester at the Carnival Village. 

The carnival queen, Melanie Eastwood is a night health care assistant and spends her free time volunteering at Action for Children and Worcester Community trust. 

Mrs Eastwood said: "I always wanted to be carnival queen but felt that I may not match up to what people may see as typically beautiful, to me that's what the Queen was like out of a storybook.

Worcester News: Worcester carnival Worcester carnival

"I do think it's important to remember that we all come in different shapes and sizes, to accept and embrace ourselves is a beautiful thing.

Worcester News: Worcester carnival Worcester carnival

"As Carnival queen now, I see a platform that I could use to reach out to my wider community and to support and empower themselves and others to bring back the support we once had and the community spirit that we showed during the pandemic."