BANK Holiday fun is due to hit Blackburn when a carnival comes to town this weekend.

The Family Mardi Gras 2000, being organised by Blackburn with Darwen Council, will transform the town centre with a party atmosphere between Saturday, August 26, and Bank Holiday Monday, August 28.

The carnival begins at noon on Saturday when street entertainment and party bands will be on in the town centre until 5pm.

The evening fun starts at 7pm when a party night with DJs, bands and street entertainment will keep the town centre alive until after 10pm.

Sunday has been dubbed a salsa extravaganza with three Latin bands, Eso Es, Apitos and Salsa Pa'Gozar. The event, in King William Street, will include free salsa workshops with Cuban dance coach Joan Munoz while The Floor technicians will provide evening cabaret.

The carnival truly comes to town on Monday between noon and 7pm.

Visitors to Blackburn can join in with street entertainment, including bands, performers, street theatre and "much, much more".

The highlight of the weekend will be the carnival procession hailed as "the biggest Blackburn has ever seen" which begins at 3pm.

The procession will begin in Jepson's car park in Blackburn before proceeding along Mayfield Street to Bolton Street, Darwen Street, Church Street, Ainsworth Street, Exchange Street, King William Street, New Market Street and Northgate before finishing in Simmons Street.