Tens of thousands of people expected at Bridgwater Carnival

Credit: ITV West Country

Tens of thousands of people are expected to pack into Bridgwater on Saturday (3rd November) for the town’s annual illuminated carnival.

The procession begins at 7pm on Bath Road with nearly 100 entries making their way through nearly two miles of the town, finishing on Northgate.

More than 2,000 people will be involved from across the West Country.

More than 2,000 people will be involved in the carnival procession. Credit: ITV West Country

The historic event’s origins lie in the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605 and the carnival marks the start of the ‘Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnival’ circuit.

Other events are set to take place in towns including Glastonbury and Weston-super-Mare during November.

The build-up to the main event starts at 10am on Saturday with entertainment in the town centre.

There will also be a children’s dance parade and lantern parade in the afternoon and, just before the main procession begins, the award-winning Arcadia Spectacular will be showcasing their unique creation ‘The Bug’ along the High Street.

The main procession will start at 7pm and will include 44 spectacularly illuminated ‘carts’.

Carnival clubs have been working around the clock to be ready in time for the event – with many entries costing thousands of pounds to build.

The entertainment will finish after the procession with a display of ‘squibbing’ in the town centre.

150 people will take part in the tradition of holding aloft ‘squibs’, which arefireworks strapped to blocks of wood attached to a large pole.

After the procession there will be a display of ‘squibbing’ in the town centre. Credit: ITV West Country

Parking is limited in the town centre on the night, however a park and ride service for spectators will be available from four locations:

  • M5 Junction 24 (blue) - TA6 6DF – opens at 2pm

  • M5 Junction 23 (green) - TA6 4TN - opens at 2pm

  • M5 Junction 23 (yellow) - TA6 4TN - opens at 2pm

  • M5 Junction 23 (red) - TA6 4AT – opens at 11am

Park and Ride charges are £5 per car plus £1 per adult travelling. Children under 16 are free.

Carnival clubs have been working around the clock to be ready in time for the event. Credit: ITV West Country

Malcolm Cattle, President of Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, says: “This is my final year as president, and after spending over 56 years in carnival, the signs are indicating that the 2018 Bridgwater Carnival is going to be the best one yet – I couldn’t be more excited.

After Bridgwater, carnivals in Somerset will be taking place in the following locations during November:

  • Monday 5th: Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea

  • Friday 9th: Weston-super-Mare

  • Saturday 10th: North Petherton

  • Monday 12th: Midsomer Norton

  • Wednesday 14th: Shepton Mallet

  • Friday 16th: Wells

  • Saturday 17th: Glastonbury