The Bridgwater Carnival is the largest of several carnivals which tour towns in central Somerset, to celebrate the anniversary of the 1605 gunpowder plot, when Guy Fawkes failed to blow up the English Houses of Parliament. The Carnival is a dramatic, illuminated procession of about 100 floats, each lit by thousands of light bulbs. Each float is built (in great secrecy) by a Carnival club representing a town, pub or place of work in the area, with widely varying themes. It claims to be the largest illuminated carnival in the world, attracting over 150,000 visitors. A unique feature of the Bridgwater Carnival is the tradition of 'squibbing', which takes place after the procession. Squibs are huge hand-held fireworks, and about 100 are lit at once in a dramatic (and slightly scary!) display. (The practice gives its name to the English expression of 'a damp squib', which refers to a non-event.) The entire event is organised by volunteers and raises money for charity. This also gives a rather attractive 'homely' feel, as entries vary from fabulous floats to individual children dressed up in odd constumes.. The web-site gives full details of how to watch the procession (early arrival is essential as many main roads are closed for the event) and alternative venues in the different towns of the circuit - Burnham-on-Sea, Wells, Glastonbury and Weston-super-Mare. The web-site also has a photograph gallery from previous processions and video clips of squibbing. Wikipedia has an excellent review of the history of the Carnival with some great photographs at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Country_Carnival read more

Bridgwater Carnival - Arts & Entertainment Near Me - Bridgwater, SOM

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The Bridgwater Carnival has a long history in Bridgwater. Its always held on the Thursday nearest 5 November in celebration of Guy Fawkes Day. Loads of the residents of Bridgwater and the surrounding towns and villages are involved with the carnival clubs and spend the year raising money and creating the carnival floats. Most of the floats now-a-days are technically quite impressive with loads of light bulbs and moving parts. A lot of effort is made with the floats and some of the tableus are very impressive. It is funny that there are the same themes every year, you can always bet on seeing carnival carts with the following themes; cowboys and indians, pirates, jesters, disney charactors and grown men dressed as babies! After the carnival is the Squibbing, a squib is a very large firework with a long wooden handle and 100 of these are lit and carried in a parade through the town centre, by Squibbers in old fashioned costumes. read more

This is a must see carnival.This is a carnival like no other.I like it so much i promote it on my web site and others.All the best for years, to cume from Teresa riley, of buzzard heights B&B. read more

If you've never seen it, quite simply, you must ! But arrive a few hours before the procession because the roads into the whole town center are closed. Great to take the kids along to and something VERY different. You have Rio Carnival, Nottinghill Carnival, St Paul's Carnival in Bristol, but nothing is quite like Bridgwater Carnival ! read more

I didn't know what to expect when I went to see Bridgwater carnival what I didn't envisage was Las vegas in the West Country. Colourful float after colourful float floated by with dancers and singers and lots of lights. More lights than a million Christmas trees. Don't forgot to see the Squibbing afterwards. Everything you have heard about West Country people and fire is true. They respect it deeply. Also don't forget to have a manchip. Yum read more

Yes it was pretty. But it's only lorries with light bulbs on. Each plays louds music and people in very good costumes either stand perfectly still in tableaux, or they dance. Many of the floats are extremely good and many are very samey. They have a loose theme, but they are mostly mechanisms causing parts of them to sway, or revolve, with some dancers - as I said There were about 15 lit up ones. Some of the independent or solo entries were excellent and some were not. You have to arrive early and there is street entertainment of high quality. Find your viewing pitch by about 6p.m. and be prepared to stand for 4 1/2 to 5 hours. The procession does not reach the High Street until 8.35p.m. There were large gaps between floats - several minutes - and we were loosing interest and in fact we, and everyone around us on the High Street thought it was over and left because there was over 5 minutes with nothing coming round the corner. We watched the final 8 floats from the bus on the car park. Obviously the coach couldn't leave until it was over, but then the car park was gridlocked and it was 12.15 before we were on our way. We arrived home in the Midlands at 4.30a.m. A mixed experience - some very good - but I wouldn't bother again. read more