TOWNSFOLK gripped by carnival fever are making the final preparations ahead of this year's extravaganza.

The carnival is being held between this Friday, July 11, and Sunday, July 13.

As the parade will be going through the High Street, where regeneration work is currently underway, this year's parade features no trolleys.

But this year's event is expected to as big as ever with the theme being Big in the Seventies, featuring a number of parade participants including Blackwell Concert Band, Bromsgrove Library, EPIC Youth, the Dolphin Centre, Bromsgrove ASDA , Homebase and charities Libby Mae's Little Angels, Action for Children and the Stroke Association.

Schoolchildren from Chadsgrove and Dodford will also be taking part.

The carnival weekend begins this Friday, July 11, with the Bandstand Schools in the Park event from 1pm, a funfair from 4pm and live music on the main stage from 5pm.

The main carnival day is Saturday, July 12. The parade starts at noon, starting at Bromsgrove's Artrix Theatre, School Drive, and arriving at the park at 1.30pm.

From 1pm there will be live music on the main stage, which will continue until 9pm.

Parade awards will be handed out at 1.15pm.

At 1.30pm crowds will be entertained by wrestling, with a duck race being held at 3.30pm.

There are also two carnival running races; the Timberhonger 10K and Children's challenge.

Registrations are at 5pm, while the challenges are being held at 5.30pm and 6pm.

On the day there will also be charity stalls, trade stalls, an MG Rover car display, dog shows, dancing and sports events.

The fun continues on the Sunday with a novelty fun dog show at 11am, wrestling at 1pm, and the Facta 3 band performing at 2.30pm.

Ian Perrygrove, carnival chairman, said: "We are looking forward to this year's carnival.

"It is Bromsgrove's carnival, not ours, and we want people to come out and support it.

"With the High Street work in Bromsgrove it has proved impossible to have the trolleys.

"But the history is there, and we want to keep the carnival spirit alive."

Anyone who wants top take part in the parade is invited to dress up and get to the Artrix by 11am on the day. For more details email parade@bromsgrovecarnival.org.

For more details or to get involved visit bromsgrovecarnival.org.