Members of Rowntrees department store prepare their Alice in Wonderland's themed float for the Scarborough Festival Parade. The film opens showing a high angle view of Scarborough harbour [damage on film], which shows a fairground on the quayside. The film moves on to a location on the flat roof of a building overlooking the town. A woman holds an animal tail made from fabric which is yet to be attached to a cat costume worn by an actor. Another actor dressed in green poses for the...

Members of Rowntrees department store prepare their Alice in Wonderland's themed float for the Scarborough Festival Parade. The film opens showing a high angle view of Scarborough harbour [damage on film], which shows a fairground on the quayside. The film moves on to a location on the flat roof of a building overlooking the town. A woman holds an animal tail made from fabric which is yet to be attached to a cat costume worn by an actor. Another actor dressed in green poses for the camera with a striking white flower structure surrounding her face. A flower displayed in front of some white paper or card on which is printed, ‘Carnival in Wonderland 1963’. A man gets out of a highly decorated car, the name ‘Rowntree Garage’ appears on the driver’s door. A man brings what appears to be a caterpillar costume fashioned out of tinsel and reinforced plastic or paper tube, all of this is mounted on the roof of the car. A group of festival participants eat a meal in a restaurant or hotel, some are dressed in costume. In preparation for the parade a large Rowntree’s van carries parade participants as passengers in the back. They get out of the van dressed as characters from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Some of the characters get on vehicles decorated in a way to create some episode or scene from the book. An actor dressed as Alice gets on the van seen which is decorated with the caterpillar who, in the story appears to Alice on a mushroom. Others who are gathering for the parade, include those in uniformed services who watch the colourful spectacle as they wait for the parade to begin. General views follow of the gathering participants, decorated floats wait in a queue. The parade finally gets underway with the cat leading the vehicle which has the caterpillar on it, the White Queen also walks in front. Alice sits on the car near the mushroom and caterpillar. Other characters ride with the caterpillar including the Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit. A notice on the front of the vehicle reads; ‘Jaconelli Memorial Trust – The Best in the Show’ Some of the other characters, pose for the camera including those dressed as flowers, the red queen and the white queen and those dressed as playing cards. Other floats on parade include the Dairy Queen of England, Muston Youth Club and the Y.M.C.A and a float advertising the “Freedom from Hunger Campaign”. The White Queen is awarded a trophy for the Alice in Wonderland float and the accompanying characters in the parade. Standing nearby is local businessman Peter Jaconelli, who is sponsoring the trophy. The film shows the notice shown earlier in the film which describes the Alice in Wonderland float as the best in the show. The participants from Rowntrees who have produced the Alice in Wonderland float gather and wave at the camera. The film moves on to a Scots pipe band marching ahead of the parade with the Alice and Wonderland float following immediately behind and behind them a brass band marches on. The parade heads down to Scarborough’s sea front, with close up views of the Alice and Wonderland participants and float. Views show crowds on the sea front and watching the floats and bands go by, the film concentrating mainly on the Rowntree’s float. The parade moves further on into town and past the Dolphin Hotel, with people living or working in first floor premises looking out of windows to get the best view of the spectacle. The parade pauses in the middle of its progress up one of the main Scarborough Streets, then starts again. Onlookers in one building release dozens of balloons from its upper windows, they all float away along the street. The Alice in Wonderland float submitted by Rowntree’s passes their department store. Large crowds gather on nearby pavements, as the float attracts a lot of attention. The parade moves on into more residential streets, with people coming out of their homes to watch the procession. Another notice on the Alice in Wonderland float reads; “Local Traders 1st Prize” The view changes to one from an upper storey window looking down a tree lined street. The uniformed brass band passes by followed by the Dairy Queen float, which is followed the Royal Marines float and many others some advertising local stores or services, others depict historic or fictional themes. One float has an ornate fairground organ on it and is called the Amsterdam Organ. Another brass band passes by another float promotes the Red Cross, then the Rowntree’s float appears as it passes the Hopper and Mason store. On the window or veranda area where the camera is placed occupants of the building start throwing balloons down to the parade. Back at the parade a Ringtons tea van drives past advertising its product. A group of musicians play accordions on the back of another lorry. Another brass band goes by, then film cuts to a field where all the floats parked. The participants on the Alice in wonderland float remove some of their clothing and release the person who has been inside the caterpillar for the duration of the parade. The film cuts back to the parade in action again, again mainly concentrating on the progress of the Rowntree’s float. Followed by the whole assembly of participants parked on a field. Alice sits with the silver trophy in her hand, other performers loosen or remove parts of their costume. The caterpillar “operator” is released again. General views show members of the public milling around the now static floats. The White Rabbit takes a drink out of their Silver Trophy. Props and other items are put back into the Rowntree’s van presumably to go back to the store, as the float is dismantled. The successful participants mill around talking with each other and others about the day’s event. A general view of the final gathering ends the film.