Former Spalding Flower Queens are invited to take part in the Flower Parade’s final fling next year.
Susan Richmond, from organisers Kenyon Communications, said the company would love as many former Flower Queens as possible to join the celebrations by taking part in the 55th and final parade.
The aim is for the May 4 parade to go out with a bang and the theme, “Let’s Celebrate”, is opening the way for a breathtaking procession of mobile floral sculptures.
Four unique float designs are already in production and these are Stars n Stripes, Popping A Cork, Up Up and Away and A New Arrival.
Floats in the procession will be decorated with more than a million hand-pinned tulip heads.
Also taking part are street entertainers, marching bands, local music performers and local community entries.
As always, the parade will begin its three mile journey through Spalding’s crowd-lined streets from the Springfields Events Centre in Camel Gate.
As 2013 is the parade’s swan song, talks have been going on to see what kind of event will take its place.
Eddy Poll, county council executive member for economic development, said: “Several ideas for how the festival could evolve were put forward.
“We’ll be looking at whether any of these have any mileage in them over the coming months.
“In the meantime, we will be working to make sure next year’s event is the spectacular finale the current parade deserves.”
There’s talk of Spalding’s Flower Parade being replaced by a food and flower festival.
At a meeting of Spalding and District Area Chamber of Commerce, Chamber vice-president and tourism officer David Norton suggested static floral floats could be placed around the town when the food festival is held. Mr Norton organised the parade for many years.
New organiser Caroline Kenyon, of Kenyon Communications, warned it would be “foolish” to allow the parade’s pulling power to die with it.
• For more on the flower parade visit www.spalding-flower-parade.org.uk – follow @flowerparade on Twitter or SpaldingFlowerParade on Facebook.