CARNIVAL bosses say there’s a real buzz around the Southend Carnival Festival set to launch this year’s main event.

Organisers behind Southend Carnival say preparations are in place for the festival, set to kick-off tomorrow and carry on over the weekend.

Echo:

Performer - Matt Linnen

There will be a beer, gin, music, Prosecco and family events in Priory Park, and at the Royal Hotel, Southend.

Garry Lowen, 61, carnival chief executive, said: “The set up has been going really well so far.

“There’s a really good buzz about the event on social media.

“Ticket sales are going really well and we think Saturday could be a sell-out because we have Matt Linnen of X-Factor performing.

“As it’s a brand new event for this year, it’s been quite an undertaking but we’ve been working with partners including Quest Music Services and the firm is doing the production and working with the artists and management on the event.

“We’ve been having fantastic feedback on social media about the £5 entry fee which we think will be a big draw for us.

“The new event will be a great way to launch the carnival week in the build up to next weekend’s big parade.”

Tomorrow (Friday) from 4pm until 11pm, there will be music and beer at Priory Park and the Royal Hotel will be offering Prosecco and gin.

The headline act will be band, Longy and the Gospel Trash, and Saturday’s headliner will be X Factor star Matt Linnen, who is from Southend.

Sunday will be a family-orientated day with music and entertainment for children

Entry to the events is just £5 per person, visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult on Saturday and Sunday and children go free on the Sunday.

This year’s procession, next Saturday, August 17, will be the 107th to take place in the town.

A new addition for this year is Flagz, a big Notting Hill Carnival troupe with more than 150 performers.