Holders Field, 20th-22nd June 2025
Advice For Procession Entrants
Thinking about submitting a Float or Walking group for this years procession? Here is everything you need to know!​​
Dropoff & Parking
There will be established safe drop-off points for float participants at Amesbury Abbey. Dropoff points and times will be allocated to each float to ensure smooth and safe dropoff of float participants. Support vehicles not taking part in the parade, such as minibuses and coaches, can move to the Showground after dropoff, before the parade arrives at 12, whereby they will be given free designated parking. Alternatively they can form up on Stonehenge Rd after dropoff and follow behind the parade.
Please note the float parking is only for support vehicles for the float and not participant or parent/guardian parking, who must use the general parking at the event site - which opens at 12. Alternatively, there are several affordable car parks and free parking in the town centre, should you wish to leave your vehicle at the forming up site and then walk back after the procession or event.
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Parking is available on the event site, across all 3 days, for a small optional donation. Parking restrictions will be in place in surrounding neighbourhoods and roads, please observe the restrictions. Parking enforcement will be taking place throughout the event.
Float Classes
Float entries will be split into classes, with trophies being awarded for best in class - as well as some other prizes. Once your float has been finalised, you will be asked which classes you wish to join.
Float Classes and prizes this year will be as follows (draft);
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Classes (Best in class trophy for each class);
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Walking Groups
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Business
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Car Home
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Club (Child)
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Club (Adult)
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Nursery/Pre School​
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Pub/Members Club (Licenced)
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School (Primary)
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School (Secondary)
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Youth Group (Infant)
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Youth Group (Junior)
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Youth Group (General)
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Floats​
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Business
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Care Home
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Club (Child)
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Club (Adult)
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Nursery​/Pre School
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Pub/Members Club (Licensed)
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School (Primary)
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School (Secondary)
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Youth Group (Infant)
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Youth Group (Junior)
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Youth Group (General)
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Other Prizes (awarded across all classes)
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Best In Show
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Best Costumes
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Best Float
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Best Walking Group
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Judges Commendation
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Most Innovative Float
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Most Innovative Walking Group
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Most Smiles
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Wooden Spoon
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Float Judging
Judging will be undertaken by a group of independent judges.
Judging Criteria Summary
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Judges shall assign points (e.g., 1-10) for each class based on the float’s/walking group's performance.
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Points will be totalled to determine the overall score for each float.
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Judges will give special awards for outstanding achievements in particular classes.
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Judging shall take place at the forming up site, where judges will speak to float participants and view each float - as well as during the procession and at the end. Results will be declared and prizes given as part of an event on the main stage during the Carnival Show on Holders Field.
Floats and walking groups will be scored as follows;
1. Overall Theme & Cohesion
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How well does the float convey its theme?
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Are the elements of the float cohesive and consistent with the "anything Amesbury goes" theme?
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2. Artistry & Craftsmanship
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Quality of artistic design and execution.
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Attention to detail in construction and decorations.
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Use of materials and techniques.
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3. Innovation & Creativity
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Originality and uniqueness of the float's concept.
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Creative use of materials, design, and presentation.
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4. Costumes & Performers
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Quality and creativity of costumes worn by participants on and around the float.
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Coordination and performance of the participants.
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5. Audience Engagement
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How well does the float capture and hold the attention of the audience?
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Interaction with the crowd, if applicable.
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6. Environmental Friendliness
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Use of sustainable or recycled materials in the float’s construction.
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Efforts to minimize the environmental impact.
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7. Historical or Cultural Significance
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Representation and respect for historical or cultural themes.
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Educational value and the portrayal of relevant stories or traditions.
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8. Sound & Music (if used)
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Quality and appropriateness of the music or sound effects accompanying the float.
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How well the sound elements complement the float's theme.
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9. Novelty Factors & Special Effects
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Novel means to create special effects.
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How these elements enhance the overall presentation.
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10. Educational / Legacy Impact
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How has the build of the float contributed to the education and wellbeing of those involved.
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Will the float and the groups participation have a legacy value for those involved.​
Float Theming
The theme for this years event is "anything Amesbury goes". We have deliberately left this years theme loose, to allow participants to use their own creativity!
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There are no stipulations as to how your float or walking group theme should be decorated, however the concept should be in the spirit of Carnival and not simply a "march in uniform". In the past walking groups have used barrows, wheelchairs, sack trucks etc to make mini floats that they can push - or dressed up in fancy dress and even made puppets. Others have gone all out with a vehicle or trailer float, done a dance, or even acrobatics on the way!
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If you are having a float then the parade route can accommodate any size of vehicle - including tractor/trailers and 'artic' articulated lorries. There are no weight restrictions or height/width restrictions on the parade route.
There are more details within the procession rules & procedures and safety guidance below, but the main stipulation is that your float or walking group must be sufficiently escorted by walking members either side and that they can travel throughout the parade route at a constant walking speed, without stopping.
Insurance & Safety
In many cases, liability insurance for your float will be covered under your organisations existing liability insurance policy. The Carnival team can provide advice on this where required. The vehicle and driver must, of course, also be insured.
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Float safety is very important, consideration should be given to fall protection on floats. The local area has many scaffold companies who can assist with this and may be willing to sponsor your float or assist with handrails. In some cases side straps may also be an effective means of protecting those on your float.
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Whilst the procession shall move at a slow walking pace, and ther will plenty of room between floats in case of the float needing to stop, you may wish to consider how those on your float are positioned during the procession, if standing then they should they have something to hold onto, like a handrail, or perhaps be seated during the procession - depending on the requirements of your float design.
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Toilet facilities will be available at both the forming up site and the showground. Medical cover will also be available at both sites and a medical vehicle will join the parade.
Procession Route
The procession route begins at Amesbury Abbey (where forming up will take place on Abbey Drive). The parade shall go through the town centre (via Salisbury Rd), into Earls Court Rd, left up Antrobus Rd and right onto Holders Rd. The parade will finish at the showground on Holders Field, where the floats shall enter the main arena and disembark.
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The entire parade shall take place on closed roads, with marshalls and diversion in place.
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The parade is expected to take 35 mins to 45 minutes and be approximately 1 - 1.5 miles long.
Procession Rules & Procedure
​In summary the parade shall leave the forming up site at walking pace. Each float will maintain a distance of 5-10m, from the float in front. Floats on vehicles or trailers must be adequately supervised both on the float and by members walking alongside the float in hi visibility clothing - all of whom must be visibile to the float driver at all times.
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All float drivers are required to hold full UK driving licences, entitling them to drive the class of vehicle they will be operating.
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In the event of a breakdown or problem, floats are instructed to move to the side to the parade with their hazard warning lights on, allowing those vehicles behind to overtake.
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Please see below for the full Procession Safety Guidelines & Float Requirements, which all participants are expected to follow.
Procession Safety Guidelines
Please click below to download the parade entrants safety guidelines guide. All floats should meet these specifications and observe these guidelines.
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Risk Assessment
Each group participating in the Carnival should undertake their own risk assessment. Please click below to download a sample risk assessment template.
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Safeguarding & Medical
Amesbury Carnival operates a strict Safeguarding Policy.
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A Care Quality Commission registered ambulance service will be providing medical and mental health cover for both the procession and showground during event operating times.
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Security teams operating on the procession and event site are DBS checked by their employer and all staff working for the the event medical provider hold current enhanced DBS clearance (adult and child).
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A dedicated safeguarding lead will be present on the event site throughout, and formal provision has been made for lost children and vulnerable persons. Please notify the event team of any extra ordinary requirements your group may have.
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Timings
The parade shall leave the forming up site at exactly 11am.
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Forming up shall take place from 9am, each float will be given specific time slots in which to arrive at the forming up site, in order to avoid congestion.
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The parade is expected to take around 45 mins from start to finish.