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Alton Towers set to dazzle with Mardi Gras takeover event

A Staffordshire theme park will be bursting with festival colours and energy as Mardi Gras arrives.

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Alton Towers are to hold a Mardi Gras style carnival this year as part of the annual attractions. Beatrice Goodwin from Uttoxeter is one of the star performers.

Alton Towers Resort is getting all dressed up with beads and bunting as it prepares to host the first ever Mardi Gras-inspired takeover.

Running from May 22 to June 20, the resort will be transformed with music, street performers, colour, and food, with each themed area of the park represented by a "Krewe" and parade float.

Throughout the day, each Krewe will be providing live entertainment and filling the streets with all the vibes that Mardi Gras has to offer.

Each morning, a carnival king and queen will be chosen among the guests and crowned during a lavish masquerade ceremony on Towers Street and treated like VIPs for the rest of the day, say organisers.

The resort has also launched an appeal to find five local heroes from the across the UK to be crowned carnival royalty.

To nominate a local hero, people need to share a video on TikTok explaining who they want to nominate and why they deserve to be crowned.

The theme park is looking forward to putting on a colourful show

All entries need to tag @officialaltontowers and use #MardiGrasKingandQueen and must be posted by midday on Friday, May 14.

Chris Carter, head of entertainment at the attraction, said: "Mardi Gras is celebrated around the world and it invites people from all communities to come together to enjoy music, entertainment, delicious food, parades and parties.

"We are really excited to be hosting our first ever Mardi Gras inspired takeover at Alton Towers Resort as the core of Mardi Gras worldwide is about bringing people together and celebrating your local community."

Alton Towers Resort says it continues to provide an extensive range of safety measures, including enhanced cleaning regimes, social distancing, temperature checks and mask wearing on all rides and attractions for people aged 11 and older, unless medically exempt.

A full list of measures and the park's new health and safety video can be found at www.altontowers.com/plan-your-visit/before-you-visit/know-before-you-go/.

Mardi Gras will take place from May 22 to June 20.

For more information or to book tickets, go to altontowers.com/explore/events/mardi-gras/

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