West Country Carnival
west country carnival circuit annual celebration featuring parade illuminated cart english west country celebration date back gunpowder plot purpose raise money local charity series parade town form major regional festival cart cost excess £ build result thousand hour work throughout year timing west country carnival close british celebration bonfire night november coincidence root original carnival bridgwater date back guy fawkes character associated plot blow house parliament however instigator jesuit priest robert parson nether stowey short distance bridgwater parson colleague edmund campion ralph emerson catholic wanted put end protestant monarchy parliament day order put end catholic persecution discovered attempting garner favour northernenglish based nobility english mission associated failed spanish armada plot replace protestant elizabeth england catholic mary queen scot execution campion natural death emerson parson continued plot restore catholic power england hence last illfated attempt parliament king james vi november failure gunpowder plot parson key corresponding thomas morton authority use st paul creation implementation jacobean oath allegiance bonfire night major annual celebration across whole england likely reason west country carnival originally keenly celebrated south west town predominantly protestant – hence celebration robert parson guy fawkes failure religious origin event almost forgotten far less significant today original bridgwater celebration consisted large bonfire cornhill built large wooden boat around one hundred tar barrel added together anything else available could burned tradition stopped due lack old wooden boat burn number good boat thrown onto fire burnt overenthusiastic reveller effigy guy representing gunpowder plot instigator added fire local group people known gang would seem gang started trend towards procession paraded guy towards bonfire year passed tradition continued annual celebration became elaborate involving costume music key feature event large carnival procession local people dressed took part event known masquerader feature term still used today describe parade participant parade second world war local carnival enthusiast william henry edwin lockyer also known nosey walked carnival route six year group known kilties keep tradition alive procession featuring cart cancelled due covid pandemic replace bridgwater procession live stream held carnival night showing best carnival cart year smaller masquerade parade put bridgwater burnhumonsea featured club previous year carnival enter walking entry smaller route addition carnival procession tradition squibbing still occurs procession end squib locally firework held aloft person known squibber end long wooden handle called cosh one hundred squibbers stand line bridgwater town centre making unusual impressive sight visitor crowd high street originally squib made specially carnival known bridgwater squib culminated large bang squib extinguished modern health safety concern become difficult purchase squib owing rising cost insurance presentday squib bang line flammable liquid also run along ground squibbers lit add spectacle visitor often think whole sight look little dangerous event well organised nobody hurt date bridgwater carnival first modernised originally lit lamp electric light first introduced bridgwater carnival consists display large vehicle foot long festooned dancer lightbulb follows mile km route two three hour included masquerade entrant notting hill carnival bridgwater attracts around people around west country uk globally parking well sign posted plentiful managed committee association avon somerset police public access grandstand introduced mids increased popularity recent year carnival purpose raise money local charity money collection cart procession around £ raised bridgwater carnival heritage lottery fund awarded carnival somerset promotion project £ promote conserve carnival heritage project aim raise awareness history carnival within school local community carnival concert take place week leading carnival concert carnival club perform stage wearing costume using piece scenery poorly patronised period carnival concert become highly popular attraction recent year ticket see event bridgwater hall selling quickly – partly due increased publicity partly popularity carnival increase bridgwater carnival traditionally held bonfire night november formalised first world war carnival circuit formed held first thursday november – thursday traditionally early closing day shop bridgwater local government authority business keen reschedule event weekend date – presumably make convenient visitor attend met strong resistance many local believe tradition many year maintained others concerned new timing could affect ability club participate local carnival procession – north petherton carnival traditionally taken place following saturday new timing would also spoil another local tradition known black friday local celebrate hard work carnival alcoholic manner however accepting shop work time present changed greatly local economic business need bridgwater carnival committee decided without much controversy move carnival friday effect part strategy keep carnival alive long term committee working sedgemoor district council provide entertainment visitor midday carnival day date change bridgwater first saturday november hoped result changed date many visitor come earlier stay longer perhaps taking carnival entertainment provided locally bridgwater carnival first carnival type however carnival procession within south west began year ago start late august continue late november oldest largest circuit somerset county guy fawkes carnival association circuit start bridgwater many cart appear carnival prize awarded several category best cart carnival four circuit east devon circuit first saturday september seaton colyton axminster sidmouth budleigh salterton exmouth ottery st mary honiton wessex grand prix circuit mere frome shaftesbury gillingham wincanton castle cary trowbridge warminster south somerset federation circuit wellington held last saturday september ilminster chard taunton somerset county guy fawkes carnival association circuit bridgwater first friday november north petherton day saturday burnhamonsea following monday shepton mallet following wednesday well following friday glastonbury chilkwell day saturday westonsupermare following monday last carnival whole circuit circuit bridgwater first saturday november burnhamonsea following monday westonsupermare following friday north petherton second saturday shepton mallet following wednesday well following friday glastonbury third saturday one unofficial carnival circuit held midsomer norton also series individual carnival part circuit including blandford forum melksham south brent south petherton carnival circuit cancelled due covid pandemic uniquely west country vehicle called cart unlike carnival term carnival float used term cart still used today describe large elaborate trailer used procession cart built local club individual funded totally charitable donation sponsorship local business cart always themed restriction theme organising committee regularly chosen theme include popular childrens book — like alice wonderland favourite childrens character — disney character scene theme history — like prehistoric victorian famous battle scene theme around world — australia rio de janeiro spanish travel transport — car train eg chattanooga choochoo popular theme day — including pop song dance future exploration — space popular film musical war horseles misérables starlight express cart include music costumed people complete theme people item cart either moving static tableau today cart driven farm tractor truck usually also tow large dieseldriven electricity generator provide huge amount power required power cart generator used provide one megawatt power lamp uncommon modernday cart towing vehicle often decorated match rest cart generator case modified driver positioned low two front wheel allows higher degree decoration without obscuring driver view length entire cart often built maximum allowable foot cart interspersed walking exhibit known masquerader either group single occasional marching band majorette troupe charity collector take donation spectator cart float built local club cc local charity aimed specifically solely raising fund charity operate within locality club generate fund required build operate cart totally charitable donation individual sponsorship local business — fund raised carnival season wholly distributed club charity cart cost excess £ build result thousand manhours work throughout year club based around local working social circle pub club many club specialist juvenile carnival club jcc join adult club initiation ceremony often involved work carried spare time club member voluntary basis – often working night final day get cart ready carnival festival united kingdom httpwwwcispporguk remember remember story bridgwater carnival written chris hocking president bridgwater guy fawkes carnival committee somerset carnival celebration year roger evans peter nichols isbn bridgwater without e roger evans isbn history bridgwater jc lawrence isbn x bridgwater victorian day philip james squibbs isbn somerset age steam peter stanier isbn x everyones winner brendon hill bbc somerset carnival