That's The Way To Do It - Ross-on-Wye Carnival Is Back!

3rd AUGUST 2026

That’s the way to do it - in the words of Mr Punch, who made an appearance entertaining families at the rebooted Ross-on-Wye Carnival on 1st August 2026.
‍
Take a bow the Independents, in particular Councillors Katie Fowler and Daniel Lister, for being the driving force behind the incredibly successful return of the Carnival. All the hard work they put in resulted in probably the busiest, bustling, sun-shining Saturday in Ross for years!
‍
The streets were lined with people waiting to see the parade. The local press were out snapping away to cover this event that the community had been so hopeful would make a return.
‍
The Rope Walk was a sea of people, stands, fairground activities, music and activity. There was even a dog show.
‍
If there had been any doubt or reservations about the return of the Carnival by certain councillors, or anyone on the Council staff - and there was - they probably realised ten minutes into Saturday they were wrong.
‍
The return of the Carnival shows what happens when Independents are determined to make happen what they know the community that votes them in actually wants - such a contrast to expensive vanity projects and ill-thought-out objectives that Ross has become familiar with, championed by members of the political majority.
‍
Cllr Chris Bartrum (Liberal Democrat) was part of the carnival working group, but in the run up to the carnival, some shops were very unhappy with what they thought was verbal misinformation from him about the costs of sponsorship opportunities, at odds with what was on the leaflets about it, leading them to put the leaflet in the bin without reading it - surely he was hauled up on this in the council? We can only assume he was, but maybe he wasn’t. This kind of discussion, all too often when it does happen, goes on behind closed doors in ‘confidential session’, which would keep a lid on it. Really, the public should be in the loop not out of it!
‍
Another Liberal Democrat on the working group was ex-Mayor Linden Delves, and whilst not being a driving force, put him inside a hedgehog costume and he sure knows how to do a grand job. He appeared as Spike the Hedgehog Mascot, struggling with the heat of all that costume under the summer sun before heading home for a saucer of mashed-up Weetabix and milk.
‍
No involvement from Cllr Ed O’Driscoll this time. Perhaps that helped or hindered? Perhaps his rather loud vocal skills would have been a good way to signal the end of the Carnival and time to go home, from the music stage kindly erected by Scaffolding 2000 Ltd.
‍
I love a party with a happy atmosphere, sang Russ Abbot - even the usually monotone sounding Cllr Julian Utting didn’t dampen spirits. People had been pointing out in the run up to the event that they didn’t appreciate how he as deputy mayor would be at the front of the carnival parade in the leading group, he hadn’t done any real work on the carnival and the parade hadn’t had a deputy mayor up front before. Perhaps the more cynical thought it seemed like an attempt to hijack the limelight a little to keep his profile raised ahead of elections? We’ll never know. He did try to get in the spirit of things though, seeming to have found a union-jack hat from a dressing up box at the back of the garage used at the late Queen’s Jubilee - rumour has it there will be a photo caption competition in the Ross Gazette!
‍
In the end everyone involved in the Ross-on-Wye Carnival knocked it out of the park, and it showed the best of the council. A fantastic team of volunteers from different parties and locals gave up their time, and everything worked. A special mention should go out to Ann Taylor, who worked hard on the working group. She and the Ross Town Council Amenities team beavered away, cleaning up and sorting out the site afterwards. Incredibly hard work and so important.
‍
The organisational talents of the council staff shone through, as did the summer sunshine. Yes, despite the usual lacklustre promotion by the council (a key staff member in this regard is leaving so in future the marketing should hopefully improve soon), the carnival was a roaring success - a very successful relaunch!
‍
Fingers crossed the Carnival will be back in 2027 - it’s already said that next time will see the return of floats in the parade.
‍
As Ross smiles back at a Saturday that had a wonderful vibe about it, with everyone enjoying themselves, a round of applause must go to everyone involved, and a standing ovation for Councillors Daniel Lister and Katie Fowler for bringing the town some real joy.
‍
Damn impressive Lister and Fowler … but we bet both of you can't put a Rowntree's Fruit Pastille in your mouth without chewing it!
‍
Put those two in charge of Community, Markets and Tourism? A good shout. They seem to have what it takes to turn around that committee and make it work for little old Ross-on-Wye.