COMMUNITY members are being given the chance to get creative for this year’s Colchester Carnival.

Free workshops are being held at Slack Space, in Queen Street, in which groups and individuals taking part in the event can make their own headdresses and dragon wings to wear in the parade.

The two workshops, on June 26, are being run by artist Lisa Gorrod.

Mrs Gorrod said: “The workshops are for people who have already entered or who still want to enter the carnival.

“It is about creating an exciting carnival in Colchester where local people are involved and taking part, so it would be great if local people and groups came along.

“We want to establish a really good carnival in Colchester.”

The workshops are being divided into two sessions – wing making at 11am and headdress making at 2pm. Anyone is welcome, although under-16s should be accompanied by an adult.

The workshops follow a visit by two professional carnival artists to Slack Space last month.

Colin Spalding and Steve Hoyte shared their expertise with 12 local artists who could take their new-found creative skills out to the community.

The theme of the event is colour and noise and the carnival procession will take place on July 16.

Dorian Kelly, the carnival’s artistic director, said: “We are absolutely determined to make this a carnival where everybody can join in.”

Anyone wanting to find out more about the latest workshops should go to the Slack Space Colchester page on Facebook Carnival acts will be showcasing their talents throughout the day, thanks to the generosity of a Colchester salon.

Hair by Benjamin Charles, based on North Hill, has pledged £800 to cover the cost of putting up a stage in Castle Park, which allows acts to perform at 15-minute intervals.

Salon director Benn Holbrook-Morris, said: “I wanted to get involved because I run a young business – we opened four months ago – and this is a fairly young event.

“The carnival has had its challenges in the past, but now I really want to see it succeed.

“I have a passion for success in everything I do and I feel when more like-minded people get behind it, we will be able to make it a really great event.”

A show will also take place in the evening as part of the carnival’s continuing celebrations in Castle Park.

Carnival organisers are offering people the chance to join in with a samba band that will be part of the procession.

You can learn the dance by copying a training video on the Colchester Carnival website.

If you register, you will be invited to a professional dance workshop at Colchester’s Topnotch Health Club, the week before the carnival.

Visit www.colchestercarnival. com for further details.