FIRST coaches were in Wisbech bright and early today as the 50th anniversary of the four day Rose Fair got off to a spectacular start.
In chapels and churches across town scores of volunteers tended floral displays that are at the heart of this traditional celebration.
Make shift cafes have sprung up, too, in places such as St Peter's where ham and haslet salads compete with ploughman platters and strawberries and cream for hungry customers.
The attractions of this Georgian town are many and varied and include two grand parades on Saturday, the first at 11am and another at 2pm.
But it is flowers that dominate and St Peter and St Paul's is pivotal with its 'floral pageant' theme echoing through the extraordinary and colourful displays.
At Trinity Methodist Church the theme is 'bountiful earth' whilst the United Reformed Church offers 'biblical faith'. Wisbech Baptists round off the quartet of churches taking part with the theme 'festival and God's Church Family.'
Angles Theatre, Peckover House, Octavia Hill's Birthplace House, the Wisbech and Fenland Museum and Wisbech Castle are all open too with many holding special themed events.
On Saturday more than 20 decorated floats will take to the streets led by Rose Queen Yazmin Holmes and float entrants include schools, clubs and organisations helping to raise money for local charities.
Simon Johnson, of Wisbech Round Table who organises the parade, said: 'It brings a carnival atmosphere to our town and captures the true spirit of people coming together from different organisations and walks of life.
'People travel from various parts of the country to attend and see the large number of wonderfully decorated floats, bands and vehicles that are entered each year.'
The theme for this year's parade is Wonders of the World. Round Table collectors will carry charity buckets alongside the floats, with money raised donated to local causes.
A park and ride bus service will operate between Elm High Road and Church Terrace on the Saturday. For full details, visit our website.
New participant this year to Rose Fair is Wisbech Yacht Harbour which is are holding an open day on Saturday giving the public a chance to see a range of different vessels and all the facilities on offer there.
The Yacht Harbour will be open from 10am - 4pm and the Wisbech Sea Cadets will be on hand to ferry visitors along the length of the harbour - a trip of about 20 minutes.
The Port of Wisbech Authority will have some of their craft on display along with Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (EIFCA) Craft and possibly a wind farm support vessel as well.
Some of the local fishing fleet are also hoping to bring along their vessels.
The Harbour Cafe at the Boathouse will be open all day, selling home-cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner, including a few special Portuguese dishes.
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