It may be six months away, but organisers of Carnivale are already making plans for the popular festival, and they need your help.

The highlight of Carnivale for many is the Street Parade which attracts close to 10,000 onlookers and dozens of floats painstakingly created by members of local clubs, businesses and community groups.

In 2011 the theme of the parade was 'Wonderland', but for 2012, organisers are calling on the creativity of The Newsport readers to come up with an inspiring theme.

"We need a theme for the street parade," said Carnivale's Ken Dobbs. "I believe it should relate somewhat to the eclipse because that's the big thing that's happening next year.

"(But) You can't have everyone just carrying big suns with shadows over the top, it'd be a pretty boring street parade. So you've got to think about how to make it interesting.

"It could be The Heavens, or The Sky. It's got to give people (participating in the parade) the opportunity to get creative."

Although the total solar eclipse next November will be a huge talking point in 2012, Mr Dobbs said that people aren't restricted to that concept, and all ideas will be considered.

Float entries into the parade are free and prize money for the best float will be $1000.

Next year's Carnivale will be the festival's 18th birthday and will run between 18 to 26 May.

In a change of format, Palates of Port, Food Wine & A Taste of Port, the Longest Lunch and the Seafood Extravaganza will run on the first weekend, while the Street Parade and the Four Mile Beach day will take place on the Friday and Saturday of the second weekend.

So get your thinking caps on and Have Your Say below on what the 2012 Carnival Street Parade should be. 

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