IT MIGHT not be quite the Cowley Road Carnival, but this year East Oxford can boast two fun-filled outdoor celebrations which will bring thousands of revellers flocking to the area.

In March, the cancellation of the county’s biggest outdoor event came as a blow to Oxford’s most colourful street – but volunteers have clubbed together to ensure there will be double the fun in East Oxford on Sunday.

More than 30 businesses have joined forces to stage the Cowley Road Carnival Fringe event, which will see dozens of music performances in pubs and bars as well as a teddy bears picnic, a dedicated O2 Academy live music tent and all the tastes and flavours of the street.

The event will raise money for the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) which works to save the endangered species and their forest habitat through grassroots conservation projects.

Meanwhile, in South Park about 15,000 revellers are expected to attend the Carnival in the Park, which offers two outdoor music stages, two acoustic performance areas, two DJ areas and the carnival procession.

The fringe event organised by the Plain Traders Association will see Cowley Road festooned with giant balloons.

Organiser Erica Steinhauer said: “The support from Plain Traders at every level has been fantastic, ensuring there will be a great Cowley Road Carnival Fringe.

“It’s a great example of how, from confusion and cancellation, East Oxford has ended up with two carnivals, one in the green fields and one on our much-loved Cowley Road. This year we’re closing the five side streets on the lower east side ensuring plenty of ‘off-road fun’ and we’re looking forward to next year closing Cowley Road and all the side streets from Princes Street to the Plain.”

Larry Reddington, who is providing live blues rock and country music outside his shop, The Music Box, said: “We’re looking forward to it, we’ll have live music outside the shop and we hope everyone will have a good time.

“We were disappointed when the carnival was cancelled and we’re very pleased to get involved in this.”

Joanna Bennett-Jones, manager of the Cape of Good Hope, said: “Carnival day is about having fun. The Cowley Road doesn’t have so many people coming here at the moment so this is important to put us back on the map.”

More than 70 music and dance acts are expected at the Carnival in the Park which is running a home-grown theme with 11 schools taking part in a carnival procession.

The procession which will be full of revellers in masks and feathers, will again be led by the thumping drums of Oxford’s Sol Samba band.

Co-ordinator Sarah Mayhew said: “Family fun will be the order of the day in South Park. We’re looking forward to the sun shining down over the stages showcasing the best of local dance, DJ and musical talent.

“The park will be packed with something for everyone from children’s arts and crafts activities, to funky clothes stalls, community groups and charities sharing their interests and passions, there’ll be culinary classics to tantalise the taste-buds with international foods, and locally brewed beers.”

The Fringe runs from noon to 6pm, while Carnival in the Park runs from noon to 8pm , with the procession starting at 2pm.

cwalker@oxfordmail.co.uk