Somerset Guy Fawkes Carnivals

Living in Somerset, attending the annual Guy Fawkes Carnivals around Bridgwater and the surrounding towns is a fantastic tradition that many of us look forward to every year.

Living in Somerset, attending the Guy Fawkes carnivals around Bridgwater and the nearby towns is a tradition I never tire of.

Every November, the county lights up with music, colour and enormous illuminated floats, and each visit feels like stepping into a moving theatre.

Why November?

Most people think of carnivals as summer events, but here in the South West ours are evening processions held in November.

The carts (not floats!) are covered in lights and animated features, so darkness is part of the show.

Many of the largest carts carry more than 20,000 bulbs and include moving parts, dancers and dramatic soundtracks.

Not every carnival cart on the Somerset circuit is a moving, dancing spectacle. Some are known as tableau carts (pronounced “tab-lo”), which are designed to be still or slow-moving displays rather than full performances.

Seeing them glide down the High Street is something else.

Bridgwater Carnival is the biggest and most famous on the circuit. It attracts the largest crowds and includes more walking entries than the other towns.

The procession takes more than two hours to pass any one point, and people often reserve their favourite viewing spots by lunchtime, even though the parade does not start until around 6 pm.

Even though I live close to Bridgwater, we tend to head to the Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge carnival.

It is usually a bit less crowded, and it is easier to find a good spot to watch the procession.

Practical tips

If you are worried about the weather, you can purchase covered grandstand seating at Bridgwater carnival, but these seats sell out fast, so book early.

The carnival is free to attend, but donations are appreciated and are usually collected for local charities. It’s worth heading to the town early in the day to get a good spot and avoid the road closures.

A park and ride is provided from Junction 24 of the M5

If you cannot make it in person, most processions are also live-streamed on YouTube.

Unfortunately, sometimes there can be long delays during the carnival, due to carts breaking down or other issues.

This year, Burnham-on-Sea carnival was over an hour late starting due to an issue with comms devices and two years ago, North Petherton was two hours late starting due to a suspected gas leak.

While these delays can be frustrating, it’s worth remembering they are usually related to the safety of all involved, and clubs are often devastated when there are problems with their cart.

Carnival Concerts

Two weeks before carnival night, Bridgwater hosts the Carnival Concerts. These are stage shows where each club performs a routine tied to their cart theme. The concerts are hugely popular and often sell out.

Cart Rules

There are strict rules for Carnival Carts. For example, they can be up to 100 feet long and are weighed and measured before joining the procession.

Many carts feature dozens of performers, hydraulic mechanisms and lighting and sound systems that rival theatre productions.

Squibbing, a Bridgwater special

After the parade finishes, Bridgwater holds the unique tradition of squibbing. Members from each carnival club line the High Street, each holding a large firework, known as a squib, on a pole above their head.

When these are lit together, the street becomes a shimmering wall of sparks. It is a sight you will not see anywhere else.

The Circuit Towns

The Guy Fawkes carnival circuit travels across several Somerset towns.

The usual sequence of circuit towns includes Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge, Weston-super-Mare, North Petherton, Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury and Wells.

Midsomer Norton also has a carnival, but not all of the large carts attend.

Some other Somerset towns, such as Taunton, hold their own carnivals, though these are not part of the Guy Fawkes circuit. They’re still great community celebrations, but they don’t feature the huge illuminated carts that make the Somerset circuit so famous.

A Bit of History

Bridgwater Carnival has roots that reach back to 1605 and the failed Gunpowder Plot.

Early celebrations involved bonfires, and things sometimes got out of hand, with boats and other items being burned.

Over time, the celebrations evolved into the organised illuminated parade we have today – the carts used for this are the reason we say carts and not floats.

Carnival Facts and Figures

Biggest illuminated carnival in the world: The Somerset Guy Fawkes circuit is widely recognised as the largest series of illuminated processions anywhere on the planet.
Cost to build a cart: Large carnival carts can cost between £20,000 and £100,000 to design and build. Most are funded through club fundraising events held all year round.
Cart size: Carts can be up to 100 feet long and are weighed before joining the procession to ensure they meet regulations.
Lighting: Some feature more than 20,000 light bulbs controlled by complex computer systems.
Performers: Each cart can carry 30 to 50 performers, with some groups including singers, dancers and technicians.
Judging: Every entry is judged in several categories, such as overall impact, lighting, music, performance, and originality. Points are awarded by independent judges, and trophies are presented after each event.
Themes: Each club creates a new theme every year, ranging from musicals and movies to fantasy and folklore.
Fundraising: Collections taken along the route go to local charities, often raising tens of thousands of pounds across the circuit.
Volunteers: The carnival movement relies on hundreds of volunteers, including marshals, electricians, costume makers, and musicians.
Preparation time: Most clubs work for around 12 months on a single cart, starting almost as soon as the previous carnival ends.
Weather resilience: The show goes on rain or shine. Some spectators bring umbrellas and hot drinks.

Final Thoughts

Whether you are a lifelong local or a first-time visitor, the Somerset Guy Fawkes carnivals are a uniquely local mix of creativity, community and history. They light up the autumn nights like nowhere else.