The Southend Carnival launched today, and runs until Saturday the 21st of August.

The main focus of the annual August event is the fair held at Chalkwell Park. It’s open from 2pm to 10pm (8pm Sunday) with fairground rides, win-a-fluffy-thing stalls and lots of candyfloss.

The highlight of the carnival is the illuminated “torchlight” parade next Saturday. This kicks off at 7.45pm and travels East from Western Esplanade to the Castle Pub. It should reach the pier area (where most of the crowds congregate) at 8.40pm

Planning to go to the carnival? Details at programme at www.southend-on-seacarnival.org.uk

Although the Digital TV Switchover won’t affect most Southenders until April 2012, Sky’s been busy in Southend Town Centre, as it’s the first day of their four day “Sky Southend-on-Sea Roadshow“.

If you happen to be at the Odeon end of Southend High Street between today, the 29th of July, and Sunday the 1st of August, you’ll find a mini-arena, photo booth, a friendly Sky chap with a loud microphone and a tent demo’ing the latest offering from Sky – the Sky 3D service that’s launching in October 2010.

There’s lots of people with clipboards keen to sign you up to Sky, as well as to capture your personal details for Sky’s mailing list. You’ll also be able to pick up a goodie bag with a handy “Sky, Believe in better” notepad, a Sky Digital Switchover pen, and a leaflet for the good people of Canterbury in Kent.

It seems that last week, the roadshow was in Canterbury, and their goodie bags have yet to “switch over” to the Southend-on-Sea leaflets. D’oh, as Sky One’s Homer Simpson would say.

Sky Roadshow in Canterbury? Nope Southend!

Still, if you’re considering switching to Sky, want to know what 3D TV looks like, or just fancy a free pad ‘n’ pen, pop down to the Sky Roadshow on the High Street before Sunday afternoon.

Some tips:

• Do: Get £3 in cash for taking a 3 minute survey on your viewing habits by the ladies with clipboards
• Do: Enter the draw for a Sky+ package (if you’re OK handing over your address, that is)
• Do: Say hi to the lovely promotion girls Emma, Heidi and Anna (tell them we sent you!)
• Don’t: Sign up to Sky at the roadshow! The “Free Sky+ box” quoted on the Canterbury leaflet is also available online, but you get a £25 Marks and Spencer voucher if you sign up online (or £50 if you go HD) – Sign up online and get a voucher at www.sky.com/shop for a better deal
• Don’t: Forget the free pad and pen

For details of how the Digital Switchover affects Southend, go to www.southendswitch.co.uk

This weekend, Old Leigh played host to the Leigh Folk Festival. although it was a swelteringly hot day on Sunday, the crowds turned out in force to watch a day of free live music, street theatre, dancing, concerts, comedy and a parade.

If you’re interested, there’s a small selection of photos of the 2010 Leigh Folk Festival, the 19th annual event, here: Leigh Folk Festival Summary

Well done to the organisers for another unique and eclectic mix of events and culture, and to the performers, musicians, dancers and singers for performing so well despite the heat!

Day One of the Southend Air Show (“Festival of the Air”) is drawing to a close. Visibility’s been great, but the high winds have caused a couple of displays to be cancelled, including the Battle of Britain flypast. The winds have not stopped some impressive flying from various RAF aircraft, a display by the rescue helicopter, stunt flying and wing-walkers. Sadly, no Red Arrows this year.

Ending today was a very noisy display from the always-impressive Typhoon.

Weather’s looking great for Bank Holiday Monday’s free show on the seafront, and as well as planes, there’s fun for all the family (as they say) right the way along Western Esplanade.

Not a great day for photos here on Western Esplanade, but here are a couple.

More on our Southend Airshow page.