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Welcome to the Somerset Carnivals website.
[2007 Triple-DVD pack] Three DVDs containing over 3 hours of footage from Bridgwater, Shepton Mallet and Wells.
See more info.
[Forum] Join in with the carnival discussions in the forum. Everyone welcome (from club members to spectators). Join the forum.
[Latest photos] Wells, Glastonbury and Weston-super-Mare photos are now online. Check them out in the image gallery.
[Latest movies] Bridgwater movies are online. Shepton Mallet, Wells, and a limited number from Glastonbury to follow. Check them out in the movie gallery.
The Somerset Carnivals are highly regarded as the largest
illuminated procession in the world. They occur late on in the
year at various locations including: Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Chard, Ilminster, Glastonbury, North Petherton, Shepton Mallet,
Taunton, Wellington, Wells, Weston-Super-Mare, and Yeovil.
The carnivals in Somerset date back to 400 years, and are one of
the most spectacular events in Somerset today. In some of the bigger
locations (such as Bridgwater), you can expect to see crowds of up to
150,000.
The carnival floats (or carts as they are sometimes referred as), are
designed and built by dedicated carnival clubs around the West Country.
These carnival clubs have many members who raise money throughout the
year, and work relentlessly to achieve the spectacular carnival entries.
The carnival floats take part in the carnival parade along with other
entries; these range from
clowns dancing in the streets to 100ft illuminated carnival floats (some
with up to 30,000 light bulbs) pulled by tractors.
There are many prizes to be won at the carnival
processions, and judges along the route rate the floats in
various categories.
The Somerset carnival procession runs along the
Wessex Grand Prix
circuit, the South Somerset Federation Carnivals circuit, and
ends on the Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnival Association
circuit.
You'll be able to bring the illuminated somerset carnivals back to life
whenever you want as we've got 8100+
photographs, 1900+ movies and then there's carnival radio. There's more than 200 carnival clubs featured throughout this site.
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