After years in the wilderness, Barrow Carnival could be set for a return to the streets in 2018.
The event has existed, in one form or another, for more than a century, but has been absent from the town since 2012.
The festivities were briefly restored in 2014 with a summer party event in Barrow Park, but the traditional parade and floats were left behind.
Ultimate Events, working alongside MMX Events, are now striving to bring the carnival back to the streets.
Denis Horan, founder of Ultimate Events with his wife Beth, said: “Barrow needs the carnival. It's such a big place and something that children and families always look forward to.
“It's still early days; it's only been a week or so since we began planning it, but we're hopeful the full carnival will be back next year.
Since it was established, the carnival was a mainstay of Barrow summers for many years, although it has been cancelled at various points during its long history.
It's longest absence was from 1958 until its return in 1971.
The company hopes to showcase the best of Barrow in a “celebration” of the town to rival the carnivals held annually in Askam and Dalton.
They plan to run a fundraising event this summer to be ready for next year's eagerly-anticipated return.
Mr Horan said: “We're doing a Barrow Carnival Fun Day with a parade around the park in June.
“It's not the whole carnival because it's too late to do it all. There's too much to do and too much red tape.
“It's going to be the same weekend as always – the last Saturday in June.
“There's going to be stalls, a fun fair, a music stage and dancers, but we're always looking for anyone who wants to get involved and help out.
“The whole point is to raise cash for next year's carnival, to raise money to pay for the events, entertainments and policing.”
The company were responsible for the success of last year's Christmas lights switch on, having picked up the baton in October 2016 after the event was facing the axe, and they are already scheduled to run 2017's display.
August will also see the company host the Ultimate Pop Festival in Craven Park, with the company able to lure a host of stars to the area.
They will welcome the likes of Brian McFadden, Atomic Kitten and S Club to Barrow.
Mr Horan said: “We did the Christmas lights last year and a gentleman approached us and asked us to consider taking the carnival on.
“The fun day is going to be the same as the switch on. We're trying to get the community's support like you see in Askam and Dalton.
“We're a bigger town, and they manage to do it.”
Read more:
Summer Party to replace town's Carnival
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