Fans of Elmer the elephant can get a taste of next year’s Big Parade with a mini trail at Ipswich School this weekend.

The school is marking its role as associate education partner for Elmer’s Big Parade Suffolk by introducing the trail as part of the school’s Open Morning on Saturday

Visitors to the Senior School will be able to meet Elmer, the popular patchwork elephant children’s character.

They will also have the chance of winning a bag of Elmer goodies by answering some questions about elephants which will be hidden in the department displays around the school.

The event forms part of the build up to the launch of an art trail in Ipswich between June and September next year featuring 50 individually designed elephants based on Elmer in support of St Elizabeth Hospice.

Ipswich School Headmaster Nicholas Weaver said: “We are so pleased Elmer is going to visit us at our Open Morning.

“Supporting Elmer’s Big Parade Suffolk next year is very important to Ipswich School as it reflects the longstanding links we have with our local community and will hopefully help raise money for St Elizabeth’s Hospice.

“Moreover it emphasises the value we place on art and creativity in education.”

Norman Lloyd, Elmer’s Big Parade Suffolk campaign manager, said: “It is really fun that we are able to send Elmer ‘back to school’ to help support our new associate education partner.

“Ipswich School’s participation is so important to our campaign and we are excited to work together over the coming months to develop the learning programme and help other groups get involved too.”

The Ipswich School Open Morning is a chance for people to find out more about the school with a range of activities for visitors including helter-skelter art, science experiments and a history mystery.

Both schools will be open from 9.30am to 12noon, with parking available at the Senior School on Henley Road and at the Prep School on Anglesea Road.

The Lodge Day Nursery on Ivry Street will also be open, and there will be a free crèche there for children up to 6 years old.

The Open Morning can be booked online through the Ipswich School website.