Bishopstoke Carnival has returned to Eastleigh for the first time in five years with hundreds of people enjoying duck racing, fancy dress, and bouncy castles.

A carnival procession arrived at Glebe Meadow at 11am on Saturday, September 7, with live music, circus performers, and a wide range of food and drink stands. 

Duck races also took place throughout the day in the neighbouring river.

The event was made possible after a collaboration between Bishopstoke Parish Council and residents.

Cath Hibberd was volunteering at the event for the first time and said: “It’s great to be back.

“The Covid-19 pandemic was the worst thing that could have happened to the carnival really, so it had to take a break for a while and then it took time to get it up and running again, but after five years it’s great to be back.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever done anything like this, and it’s been a fantastic experience and I’m so happy to see so many people here today, braving the weather and getting involved.”

READ MORE: Black Axe Throwing Co Southampton at The Marlands closes

Helen Baker, Pick 'n' Melt at Bishopstoke Carnival (Image: Matt Davey)

Helen Baker manages Pick ‘n’ Melt with her husband, a wax melts candle shop on Market Street in Eastleigh and was running a stall at the carnival for the first time.

She said: “We opened our shop on Market Street in October 2023 and have been very active in the community of Eastleigh and supporting other local businesses.

“It’s been great to meet new people today, it’s wonderfully busy, we haven’t done it before and didn’t know what to expect but there’s so many people here, the kids have all got dressed up and it’s really traditional and we absolutely love it. There’s been a fantastic atmosphere.”

Volunteer Stewart MacLachlan (left), Eastleigh MP Liz Jarvis (middle), and former Eastleigh MP Mike Thornton (right) (Image: Matt Davey)

Eastleigh MP, Liz Jarvis also attended the event and handed out prizes to the fancy dress competition winners, as well as taking time to meet people in Glebe Meadow.

Speaking to the Echo, she said: “It’s absolutely fantastic, I think the volunteers have done a brilliant job pulling this together in quite a short space of time.

“One of the best things about Bishopstoke Carnival is that it brings the community together, there are lots of local businesses being promoted on the stalls, so it’s just wonderful to get the chance to talk to everybody and hopefully next year it will be even bigger and better.”