Ilkley Carnival wows with biggest ever parade!

Ashlands Primary, winners of Best in Parade at Ilkley Carnival 2025

Ilkley Carnival wowed thousands this year as around 1,500 people joined in its Ilkley: Past, Present and Future-themed parade.

Local schools, play groups, organisations, performers and musicians created a celebratory atmosphere as costumes, music and dance wowed crowds lining the streets.

With a cultural theme designed to complement Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture, the parade worked its way from Grove Road to the Denton Road showground as crowds cheered on the start to the town’s biggest one-day annual event.

Burley Woodhead with “Jimi Hendrix visit to Ilkley”

Carnival committee chair Andrew Stacey said that while funds raised are still being assessed, the event surpassed all expectations in what continues to be a challenging climate for community events.

“Thanks to the incredible people of our town, Ilkley Carnival just keeps on getting better.  Raising funds for local beneficiaries is vitally important to us and so is creating an event that is loved and remains at the heart of our community. Corporate sponsors, ticket sales and donations are vital to our future and we are thankful for everyone’s support.”

Donna Russell, headteacher of Ashlands Primary, which won the parade’s Matt King Best in Parade trophy, said:

“We’re delighted to be awarded Best in Parade!  This was our biggest entry to date with 170 children participating.  All year groups worked incredibly hard on their costumes as part of a school Maker Day and we were proud of the end result.  Thank you to the carnival organisers for a truly wonderful local event which benefits worthy local causes.”

Nicola Holmes, Chair of Friends of Ashlands PTA, added:

“Our incredible community surpassed themselves this year.  Over four months we had 300 children and 80 family members involved in making costumes and props for our parade.  All the materials used were upcycled or recycled, including cardboard, tubes and plastic bottles, we even collected litter from the riverbank.  A special thanks to our artistically talented parents who produced our giant 8 metres long ‘Walter of the Wharfe’ Rainbow Trout, ‘Verbeia’ Goddess of the River and ‘Henry’ the Heron.  We hope the crowds enjoyed meeting them.”

Burley Oaks Primary in the Ilkley Carnival Parade

Lucy Ashton, headteacher of Burley Oaks Primary which entered “Stone Age Samba”, said:

“Not only did our pupils design the theme 'Stone Age Samba', the outfits and 'Bertha' the enormous mammoth, but they learnt how to play together as a samba band, mastering playing and walking at the same time! It was fabulous to see the crowds dancing along with the band and our pupils left feeling very proud of their achievement.”  

Hannah Walton, parade organiser from Ben Rhydding Primary, which entered Ben Rhydding Past & Present”, added:

“The carnival is such a wonderful community event, great fun and a wonderful focus for the town – our children are always so excited.  My family and I have been involved in the carnival for the last 11 years and this is our last time as my youngest leaves primary. We’ll really miss it so it’s great to go out on such a high!”

WTA Dance Academy brought the King's Hall & Winter Garden to the Ilkley Carnival

Other parade entries included 1st Ben Rhydding Scouts with HMS Osiris – Ilkley’s submarine, Outside The Box with “Future of Inclusion”, Ben Rhydding Pre-School with “When I Grow Up”, Westville House with “Ilkley Fountain”, Sacred Heart with “Ilkley Sports”, Moorfield with “Moorfield School On’t Moor”, Burley Woodhead with “Jimi Hendrix visit to Ilkley”, WTA Dance Academy with “Legacy of Dance”, All Saints with “Ilkley the Place we Call Home” and Addingham Primary’s “Millennium” theme. Also taking part in the parade were a range of organisations including Ilkley Pride and Diversity, Upstagers and 1224 Air Cadets.

After the parade, entertainment included the gravity defying Vander Wheel of Death (above), the Little Nippers dog show, classic and supercars, the All Saints Church Craft Tent, Joze School of Dance and Ilkley Gym Club.  

Richard Harrison of First Bus in West Yorkshire, Ilkley Carnival’s main sponsor for 2025, said:

“This is the first time we have been main sponsor and to see the huge crowds and so many families having such a fantastic experience at the carnival shows what happens when we can bring people together.  

“We understand the true value of community and of sustainability through travel or community cohesion. Connecting communities is the purpose of bus services and Ilkley has been the focal point of our routes linking Wharfe Valley towns and villages for many years and are delighted to have been part of Ilkley Carnival in this milestone year.”

Mayor of Ilkley, Cllr Damian Kearns, added:

“llkley Carnival is one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the year. Packed trains brought people from near and far to Ilkley to enjoy the festivities and the cooler weather and light rain did nothing to dim the crowd's enthusiasm.

“This year there were a record number of amazing floats all lovingly made with such extraordinary effort, creativity and commitment, making for a stunning parade. A massive thank you to the Carnival Committee and all the volunteers who make this fabulous event possible and of course to all those who participate. It's one of the highlights of Ilkley's year.”

[Mayor and Mayoress of Ilkley, Robbie Moore MP and Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Suzanne Watson on the VIP bus (Photo: Robbie Moore)]

Ilkley and Keighley MP Robbie Moore, added his thoughts about the day, paying tribute to Ilkley Carnival committee member Mari Hunt who sadly passed away in February.

He said:

"It was absolutely brilliant to see so many incredible costumes, outfits and themes - jam packed full of colour, imagination and creativity. 

"A huge well done to all of our local primary schools and organisations who took part in the parade and for spending months in advance of today preparing your costumes. You were all incredible - and a huge well done to Ashland’s Primary School on winning the best in show. 

"Thank you so much to all the fantastic volunteers and the exceptionally hardworking committee to which we are all hugely grateful. Andrew Stacey and the whole team did an excellent job. You all made everyone in the town feel extra special this week. 

"I also wish to say a huge thank you to the late Mari Hunt who was so instrumental in the organising of Ilkley Carnival, who unfortunately passed away unexpectedly earlier this year. Her dedication, enthusiasm and commitment to Ilkley was inspirational. 

"The event couldn’t operate without all the sponsorship and support - so thank you also to those brilliant Ilkley based businesses who kindly sponsored the event - as well as Your Ilkley Radio - as the day wouldn’t be able to take place without you."

Andrew added: “

On behalf of the committee we would like to thank everyone for the herculean efforts to create the very best parade entries we have ever seen, to thank our incredible volunteers and our sponsors First Bus, Bradford Grammar School, Ilkley BID, Ilkley Flooring Company and Spellman Care. Now we start planning for next year!”

The parade was streamed by Your Ilkley Radio, tap below to see it all in a speedy 2 minutes 30 seconds!

Images from the day are available on www.ilkleycarnival.org and for social updates follow @IlkleyCarnival.