The stage is set for Weymouth Carnival on Wednesday.

While organisers cannot control the weather, which is expected to be cloudy, they do promise an exciting array of family events.

And they say the procession will be a riot of colour and sound.

People lining up to watch the parade are in for a treat as this year sees the return of the floats.

It is expected there will be more than 50 floats plus hundreds of walking entries, including fire-eaters and stilt-walkers.

Hundreds of Dorset Girl Guides are taking part, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Guiding movement, while crowds will hear the road of scores of Harley Davidson motorcycles, which will cruise along the seafront.

A spectacle is promised with the arrival of performers from the Moscow State Circus, setting up at Lodmoor Country Park from tomorrow until Sunday. Circus chiefs are delighted their visit coincides with carnival and they say that the entire troupe of 28 artistes including jugglers and acrobats will be taking part in the parade following an afternoon performance in the big top.

The Moscow State Circus is bringing an award-winning show to Weymouth called Legenda, which is based around the tale of the Russian mystic Rasputin.

Performers include an acrobatic swing troupe known as The Didyk and Gregory’s Girls who suspend themselves in mid-air on floating silks.

Audiences will also be thrilled by Doctorov’s human statues, the Bortnikova body twisting contortionists, clowns Valik and Valerik, the Kvlividze Troupe on the rotating ‘wheel of death’ and husband and wife ‘crossbow act’ The Popazovs.

Carnival organisers had been concerned about the lack of procession entries, particularly in light of the campaign to bring back motorised floats. But following a late surge of applications, procession organiser Shaun Hennessy is confident the parade will be a spectacular sight.

He said: “We’re delighted the people of Weymouth have come through as we knew they would. It shows we’re doing the right thing in continuing Weymouth Carnival.”

The procession starts at 6.30pm from the Pavilion and will make its way to Greenhill before returning to the Pavilion. It’s not too late to enter. Call Shaun Hennessy on 07970 850068.