AS Ross-on-Wye gears up for the town’s first carnival since the pandemic nine-year-old Mia Hall has been selected as it Princess and will lead the parade.

The revived Carnival is being staged this Saturday, August 1, but it’s a scaled down version of the traditional event with it now being a walking carnival with lots of colour.

Last week the Carnival’s sponsors - Domino’s, JEH Laundry Services, Rehau and Dawley’s were tasked with the difficult challenge of picking the royality winner from the community’s nominations.

Mia’s mother, Katie, says “Mia is absolutely over the moon and super excited to be picked for 2026 Carnival Princess, it has been a dream of Mia’s for a long time.”

Mia will lead the Carnival parade alongside Cllr Sarah Freer, the town’s mayor Cllr Julian Utting the deputy mayor.

Even at this late stage if you fancy joining the parade with your family, group or club, entry is still possible.

Grants of up to £100 are available to help groups create costumes and decorate non-motorised vehicles such as bicycles, roller skates, skateboards, scooters and wheelchairs. A short form is available to download from the Town Council’s website.

The parade route will be an approximately 1.5km walk and sets off from Station Approach at 1pm and passes the Market House enroute to the Rope Walk.

The carnival procession leaves Station Approach at 1pm and goes through Cantilupe Road, Gloucester Road, Broad Steet, Kyle Street, Trenchard Street and along the path leading to the Rowing Club and to the Rope Walk.

The Carnival fun starts at the Rope Walk and will be packed with live music, a dog show, food vendors, a funfair and more from 11am.

The Dog Show itself takes centre stage from 11am and promises to be a friendly competition for dogs (and their humans) of all shapes, sizes and ages.

carnival
ROSS CARNIVAL: Its last outing was in 2019 and is set to return on August 1, The hedgehog mascot, bottom right, is what people should look for it taking part in the carnival’s Odd Object competition. (Submitted/Ross Town Council)

Whether your dog is a handsome veteran, a rescue superstar, freshly pampered, or you simply look uncannily alike, there's a class waiting for you.

This year's classes are: Best Veteran Dog (eight plus years); Best Rescue; Most Like the Owner; Best Groomed and Best Junior Handler (Under 16).

Entry is just £2 per class or three classes for £5, so why not give your canine companion a chance to shine? The competition will be judged by Ross’ very own Stanwell’s Pet Styling and The Dog Parlour Dog Grooming.

You don't need to book in advance as you can sign up on the day, so if you're visiting the Carnival and decide your dog deserves their moment in the spotlight, just go along and enter.

Running alongside the Carnival is the The Ross Business Association’s Odd Object Competition which closes at noon on Friday, July 31.

A special quiz has been produced that features a circular walk around Ross starting at The Market Square.

All you need to do is pick up an entry form then look for the Hedgehog flyers in shop windows and write down what you think the odd object is, being as accurate as you can.

Once completed return the form to Made in Ross at the Market House.